International leaders and experts from the water industry are expected in Bucharest from 8 to 10 September for a new edition of the ExpoApa event organised at Romexpo by the Romanian Water Association (ARA).

According to the organisers' release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, the 2026 edition's guests include Arthur Guichet, Secretary General of the European Water Association (EWA), and Katerina Schilling, Secretary General of the International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube Region (IAWD), along with representatives of water associations from Denmark, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

On the first day, the event's programme features debates starting from the perspective of the water industry as a national project and driver of economic development and looking towards the next decade. The discussions will cover both technologies that are changing the way water infrastructure is operated and the skills the sector will need to integrate these solutions.

On Wednesday, 9 September, one of the day's key topics will also be the outlook beyond 2027, 'at a time when European funding for the sector could take a different form from that known so far.' The debates will examine the lessons learned from European investments carried out during the current funding cycle and how this experience can be used to prepare the next generation of projects. Also on Wednesday, international experience will take centre stage at the workshop dedicated to the Danish water management model, organised with the participation of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Romania and Danish experts.

On the final day, 10 September, ExpoApa 2026 will feature the second edition of the #Skills4Water round table, which continues the topic opened at European level last year and discusses the skills needed in an industry where digitalisation, automation and new technologies are changing both infrastructure and the way it is managed.

'The technical programme concludes with a European perspective on the development of the water sector, with representatives of professional associations from several countries taking part. Experiences from Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will provide points of comparison on investment, funding and the transformations affecting water services in the region,' the organisers pointed out.

Over the three days, thematic conferences will take place alongside the technical exhibition in Pavilion B2 at Romexpo, where 82 exhibitors from seven countries will present technologies and solutions for the water sector. More than 4,000 participants from Romania and the region are expected at this year's specialist expo-conference.

The ARA is a professional organisation bringing together water operators, technical experts, authorities and solution providers, with a mission to promote integrated, efficient and sustainable water resource management. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Rodica State)

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