For the first time in the Middle East, more than 100 Cleantech experts, will gather in Dubai to chart a new era in environmentalism at the Cleantech week, to be held from November 16 to 20.

The speakers will also include Time’s Heroes of the Environment List, who will debate the challenges, trends and how to make amends in a region that’s perfectly placed to reverse its eco-footprint.

With the Cleantech sector celebrating record profits for a second year running, and with energy issues and global warming high on the economic and philanthropic agenda, it’s no wonder that investors are clamouring to jump aboard the green gravy train.

“There’s never been a better time to provide a platform for Cleantech investment,” said Kosta Petrov, conference director.

“As profit margins in other sectors fall into the red, ‘green’ has become the new black. In a volatile economic climate, embracing the environment means staying in business. It’s about thriving rather than simply surviving in the face of adversity.”

There’s no doubt that green technologies are bucking the financial trends. Figures show that venture firms invested $2.6 billion into 158 companies globally in the third quarter of 2008, up almost 40 per cent on the previous year.

“As a result of increasing awareness, political willingness, high oil revenues and international environmental problems and crises, Cleantech is developing very fast and fields like renewable, clean technology are more welcomed and encouraged in the Middle East in general and in the GCC particularly,” commented Dr Mohamed Raouf from the Gulf Research Centre, UAE.

“Investments in the Cleantech sector such as solar, wind and photovoltaics are deployed in the field very quickly. That’s around two to three years in contrast to conventional investments like hydro/nuclear and oil prospecting that take many years,” stated Time Magazine’s ‘Heroes of The Environment’, Jose Goldemberg.

“Let’s hope that the credit crunch will help investors realise that investments in sustainable business are the better choice in terms of total cost of ownership. Mitigating climate change would be overwhelmingly positive for increasing energy security,” said Steven Van Praet of Futureproofed, who’ll be sharing his thoughts at Cleantech week.

According to the experts, future generations will have no choice but to embrace Cleantech in order to guarantee sustainability.-TradeArabia News Service