(MENAFN Press) Sharjah,
Aiming to recognise the Middle East's sustainable businesses, Expo Centre Sharjah has launched the Green Middle East Environmental Excellence Award.
The awards will build on the country's green initiatives and at the same time cover the entire region by rewarding establishments from the Middle East for successfully developing and introducing technology and innovation with a 'green heart'. It is being instituted as part of premier trade event Green Middle East, the environmental management and technology exhibition and conference.
"The UAE has successfully paved the way for a green economy that supports technology transfer, economic stability and social empowerment. Through the awards we are taking our green initiatives a step further... we aim to encourage regional businesses to adopt clean technology and reap its benefits, and recognize organisations for their positive environmental and sustainable practices," said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General, Expo Centre Sharjah.
"The awards will also help winners receive gain superior green credentials, concrete business opportunities and better regional visibility, apart from demonstrating their social and corporate responsibility," he added.
Governments in the Middle East are investing heavily to diversify their economies away from the oil & gas industry, and the environment-friendly technology is a big beneficiary of this move. According to conservative estimates, Middle East countries are planning to invest about US 500 billion in 'green' energy alone over the next two decades.
"Private companies are not lagging behind government in this front... in fact they are in the forefront of embracing environment-friendly technology and helping our transition from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy by introducing new ideas to empower a sustainable society. The awards target those organisations that have implemented a sustainability approach in their day-to-day activities and long-term objectives," Mr Midfa said.
"Current environmental issues go beyond just climate change but also relate to matters such as energy conservation and resource management which help reduce operating costs. It is time to assess and understand the organisations' interaction with the environment and build sustainable businesses," he added.
The registration process for the awards is on with the last date for applying being September 15, 2012. Organisations, businesses and individuals who have succeeded in the Middle East region in implementing and promoting environmental issues can submit their entries. The awards jury will evaluate the entries and the results will be announced during the awards ceremony, which will take place in Sharjah on October 16, during the Green Middle East.
Eligible applicants must fill the application on www.green-middleeast.com, and answer relevant questions to the possible 14 categories they wish to apply for.
The second Green Middle East exhibition and conference is set to be held from October 15 to 17 at Expo Centre Sharjah, and will feature individual segments such as Solid Waste, Waste Water, Air Pollution, Scrap Metal, Alternative Energy and Green Building, apart from seminars and workshops.
It will showcase the technology, products and services that go into environment conservation and protection, offering participants a significant platform to access the region's multi-million dollar spending in environmental protection.
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