GE launches 2008 World Water Tour in Bahrain

The World Water Tour will launch in the Middle East at time when the region is facing unprecedented water demands.

"The World Water Tour gives attendees an opportunity to learn from leading global experts," said Jeff Garwood, president and CEO, GE Water & Process Technologies. "Attendees 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."

In Manama, Mohammed Ghosain, Utility Manager of Saudi Aramco, will discuss how Saudi Aramco is utilizing 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 minimize operational costs, decrease energy consumption, meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and create sustainable supplies of water for industries in the Middle East.

The March 11-12 Manama World Water Tour stop is the first stop of the 2008 tour. Manama is the first city in the Middle East to host the event. Other 2008 GE World Water Tour stops include: Brussels, Belgium; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Singapore; India and the U.S. In 2007, the GE World Water Tour the tour visited cities in Canada, Australia and Chile.

2008 World Water Tour Schedule
Manama, Bahrain, March 11-12
Brussels, Belgium, May 28-30
Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 13-15
Shanghai, China, Summer 2008
Singapore, Autumn 2008
India, Autumn 2008
USA, Autumn 2008

"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."

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.