Publication of seven new country profiles

Together for more sustainability: On 27, 28 and 29 October 2020, German Water Partnership e.V. (GWP) and German RETech Partnership e.V. (RETech), together with the network partners and authors, presented a total of seven new country profiles in the form of short online presentations followed by a question and answer session. The events were opened with a message of greeting from Parliamentary State Secretary Florian Pronold from the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The country profiles with comprehensive market information are now available for download.

A lively participation with more than 150 participants shows the great interest of German small and medium-sized enterprises to learn more about the presented countries in order to establish their innovative technologies in the international market. Business opportunities for the recycling and water management sector are widespread, because global challenges such as climate change, water and resource scarcity, and the degradation of water bodies and soil through disorderly waste and wastewater disposal are immediate and require sustainable environmental and climate protection technologies. Sustainable solutions are needed, for example in the drinking water sector for energy saving, water loss reduction and plant management. In the circular economy, too, there are major international challenges and opportunities for German SMEs, especially in the areas of orderly waste collection and treatment, the use of waste as a source of energy and secondary raw materials, and landfill remediation.

Karin Opphard, Managing Director German RETech Partnership e.V.: "The high level of participation in the presentation and the high number of downloads of the country profiles published so far underlines the importance of sector and market-specific knowledge for SMEs to be able to offer tailor-made solutions for the global challenges of the circular and water economy. The urgency of the situation in many countries means that trade barriers are being dismantled and it is becoming easier for German companies to enter foreign markets - also by means of support programmes from the German government."

Julia Braune, Managing Director German Water Partnership e.V.: "We are pleased about the broad interest of German SMEs in the event. In the long term, the country profiles should facilitate investment decisions and possible international market entries. By disseminating sustainable environmental technologies "Made in Germany", we want to make our contribution to achieving the Paris climate goals by means of a sustainable water and circular economy."

To the already 12 market analyses with a focus on the circular and water economy for the countries Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Jordan, Cuba, Montenegro, Saudia Arabia, Serbia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, the countries Egypt, Albania, Armenia, Ghana, Colombia, Sri Lanka and Tunisia have now been added this year.

The current country profiles were carried out by the German Water Partnership e.V. and the German RETech Partnership e.V. and their member companies uve GmbH für Managementberatung, eclareon GmbH, Sachsen Wasser GmbH and BlackForest Solutions GmbH. Other member companies of both associations with experience in the respective countries were significantly involved as authors: Andreas von Schoenberg Consulting, cyclos GmbH, GITEC-IGIP GmbH, GODUNI International Advisory Board, Indus Media UG, INTECUS GmbH, Ramboll Deutschland GmbH, Tilia GmbH and Urban Waters.

The preparation of the seven country profiles was funded within the framework of the "Export Initiative Environmental Technologies" of the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The "Environmental Technologies Export Initiative" funding programme is intended to support SMEs in particular in the internationalisation of their "green" technologies. Thus, the knowledge and application of environmental and climate protection technologies as well as innovative green infrastructure will be disseminated and strengthened in target countries.

The complete country profiles are now available for download at the following link:
https://www.retech-germany.net/projekte/laenderprofile

Information on the Federal Environment Ministry's "Environmental Technologies Export Initiative" funding programme: www.exportinitiative-umweltschutz.de