France wins 'Best Country Pavilion' at ENVIRONMENT 2005

Ms. Aude Lamendour, Project Manager, Environment Department - UBI France, The French Agency for International Business Development, said "Winning the Best Country Pavilion is a matter of great pride for France, as there was stiff competition from other country pavilions at ENVIRONMENT 2005, including the Dutch, German, Iranian, Indian, the UK and the US pavilions".

"Our pavilion was designed in a way that would present, in the best possible manner, our technological know-how in the environmental field. We are thrilled to have won the Best Country Pavilion award at ENVIRONMENT for the second time in succession. French companies who are part of the pavilion have built up substantial business contacts at the show", she added.

Gene Prints Inc., a biotechnology company from the US specialising in detection, identification and monitoring of genetic material using state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic technologies, won the "Best New Technology" award at ENVIRONMENT 2005.

Shell, Abu Dhabi Municipality, ERWDA and TOTAL were also presented awards at a glittering ENVIRONMENT 2005 ceremony that took place at The Sheraton, Abu Dhabi last evening. The awards were presented by Mr. Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, Director General of the General Exhibitions Corporation and, Mr. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General, ERWDA.

Appreciation awards were also given to ADNOC and its Group of Companies, which is the main sponsor for ENVIRONMENT 2005. The co-sponsors for the event, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, Union Water & Electricity Company, the UAE Offsets Group, BP, Shell, Total and the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Other special-event sponsors include ADNOC Distribution, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Marafiq and JODCO-Impex, also received appreciation awards.

338 exhibitors from 41 countries are taking part in the ENVIRONMENT 2005 being organised by the General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) and Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA). The international organising partner for ENVIRONMENT 2005 is Messe IMAG. Running in parallel with the exhibition, a scientific conference is also taking place under the theme "Sustainable Transportation in Developing Countries".