GE water & process technologies, unit of General Electric Company, will launch the 2008 World Water Tour in Manama on March 11 as part of its global initiative.

The 'World Water Tour'  is a series of educational seminars that bring global water experts and water users together to discuss innovative ways to reduce water footprints with affordable, reliable solutions.

Manama, which will be the first stop of the 2008 tour, becomes the first city in the Middle East region to host the two-day 'World Water Tour.'

Other 2008 GE World Water Tour stops include Brussels, Belgium; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Singapore; India and the US. In 2007, the GE World Water Tour visited cities in Canada, Australia and Chile.

The tour is being launched in the Middle East at time when the region is facing unprecedented water demands, said a company official. 
  
“The tour gives attendees an opportunity to learn from leading global experts,” said Jeff Garwood, president and CEO, GE water & process technologies. 

“Attendees at the Manama tour will discuss solutions and best practices that reduce water footprints and operational costs, meet regulations and balance business demands - to create affordable, reliable supplies of fresh water.”
 
Mohammed Ghosain, utility manager of Saudi Aramco, will explain how Saudi Aramco is utilising water reuse and other solutions to help create sustainable water supplies that meet everyday business demands.

Dr Dawood V. Nassif, manager technical services at the Bahrain Petroleum Company, will address how regional industries, like the petrochemical industry, are creating affordable, reliable supplies of water.

Other industry experts will discuss water reuse, boiler feed water, cooling tower, desalination, mobile water and wastewater best practices and solutions to minimise operational costs, decrease energy consumption, meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and create sustainable supplies of water for industries in the Middle East.

“The 2008 World Water Tour demonstrates our commitment to the region,” said Ralph Hadley, commercial leader for GE water & process technologies in the Middle East. 

'The tour is an opportunity to see some the most advanced technologies and solutions in world. It is also a chance to talk with leading industry experts about solutions that can help address a main concern of region – increasing water scarcity,” he added.

Currently, GE Water & Process Technologies offers a portfolio of equipment, specialty chemicals, servicing and financing to customers in the Middle East and Africa.

GE Water & Process Technologies also helps to service the region through its 'Regional Centre of Excellence' in Jebel Ali Free Zone. 

The GE Centre of Excellence is the largest purpose-built water plant in the region and supplies water treatment solutions to 14 countries throughout the Middle East and Africa.-TradeArabia News Service