Oman
is competing against some of the world’s best convention
destinations of Turkey, Singapore, India, Malaysia and South America
to host the 37th annual congress of the International Association of
Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR).
Chairman
of the IAHR Middle East North Africa Collaborative Committee and
Director of Centre for Environmental Research and Studies at Sultan
Qaboos University, Dr. Mahad bin Said Baawain said if the Sultanate
bid was successful, it would be the first time the Middle East or
North Africa region would host this congress.
Following
on from the successful hosting of the Arabian Coast Conference at
Sultan Qaboos University in 2010, Oman is well placed to host this
prestigious event, due to its World Heritage-listed Falaj systems,
extensive dam and ground water monitoring systems, seawater
desalination and water supply systems as well as water resources
management tasks and associated training programs.
“We
have received an excellent response and support from IAHR members in
Africa, China, Japan and Korea who have welcomed Oman’s bid to
place a global spotlight on fields related to hydro-environmental
studies and its complexities and open new avenues of research
collaboration not only in Oman but in the Middle East and North
African region,” Dr. Baawain said.
The
opportunity to bid for this congress was identified during the launch
of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre at the global meetings
industry, trade show EIBTM in Barcelona in November 2011.
Since
its appointment as venue manager, AEG Ogden has received positive
feedback from both international and regional organisations to
consider Oman for future congresses, and is being supported by the
Omani community to bid for these lucrative events.
AEG
Ogden’s Group Manager, Convention Sales Development, Rochelle
Uechtritz said being the only Middle East destination chosen as a
finalist is testament to the Sultanate’s diversity and destination
appeal as well as the commitment of the Government and Omani
individuals who have been actively involved with international and
regional organisations for decades.
“While
2017 was a long way off, most international organisations planned
five to eight years ahead and IAHR would be no exception.
“We
have had enormous confidence in Oman as a convention destination, we
cannot bid for these events alone. They must be supported by the
Omani member, association or society to become the local host.
“That
support will again be crucial in another bid soon to be lodged soon
for a world medical congress for 3,000 delegates in 2018,” Ms.
Uechtritz said.
She
said during the pre-opening phase of the Oman Convention &
Exhibition Centre, AEG Ogden would continue to identify and target
potential congresses which are suited to the Sultanate’s key
economic sectors.
“We
will continue to approach Omani specialists, such as Dr. Baawain and
utilise our expertise to prepare world-class bid submissions to meet
the stringent criteria and compete on a global scale,” Ms. Uechritz
said.
This
is only one of many large-scale convention leads that AEG Ogden is in
advanced stages to secure for the Sultanate and the Oman Convention &
Exhibition Centre right through to 2024.
The
successful host country for 2017 will be announced at the 36thAnnual
IAHR Congress in Chengdu, Korea in September this year.
