World Canals Conference 2009
More than one hundred experts, professionals, and enthusiasts from three continents gathered at the 22nd World Canals Conference that was held in Serbia from September 21st to 27th, 2009.
Under the motto that “East and West Will Meet”, such a Conference was held for the first time in a country from southeast Europe. The event itself was designated to rising of awareness on canals and regulated waterways and enhancing of their economic properties. As far as we are concerned, this was the opportunity to present the efforts of national water management sector at the international scene. The focus of the Conference was on inland waterways of the Middle Danube Region, the significant part of which consists of canals belonging to the Danube-Tisza-Danube Hydro-system.
The role of the main organiser of the Conference belonged to the Public Water Management Company “Vode Vojvodine” and of the co-organiser to the “Danube Propeller” Association. The Inland Waterways International provided the support to the organisation of the event and the Government of the AP Vojvodina was the main patron of the Conference.
- 120 participants from 17 countries round the world – Canada, United States of America, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Korea, and China.
- The delegates from the Asian countries participated at the World Canals Conference for the first time in its two decades long history.
- 58 authors presented their papers during a three-day expert meeting that was held in Novi Sad (September 23rd to 25th, 2009) in the “Master” Congress Centre within the following topics:
1. World and European attitudes to inland waterways;
2. New and renewed inland waterways in Europe and the world;
3. Industrial heritage on inland waterways and economic development;
4. Canals and tourism;
5. Canals and navigation;
6. Canals and the environment.
- Two study visits – one along Djerdap Gorge and the other along significant sites on canals belonging to the Danube-Tisza-Danube Hydro-system – were organised in order to present to the participants from all over the world in the best possible way the potentials of the Middle Danube Region in our country.
Organisation of the World Canals Conference contributed to enhancing of regional and international co-operation, establishing of new contacts, and exchanging of experiences that could lead to future co-operation in water management at a higher level, as well as to strong promotion of national resources.
- Presenting of navigation potentials of our country, with a special emphasis on perspective of the Danube-Tisza-Danube Hydro-system within the European network of waterways.
- Co-operation with the Dutch-Serbian Business Council, World Forum of Water Cities, Danube Rectors’ Conference, etc.
- Promotion of valuable water management facilities of industrial heritage in Vojvodina and implementation of the world trends in their preservation.
- During the Conference, at the initiative of the Public Water Management Company “Vode Vojvodine”, the representatives of five municipalities from Vojvodina – Sombor, Vrbas, Kula, Srbobran, and Becej, signed the Agreement on establishing of the Association of Towns on the Grand Backa Canal.
- Improvement of the image of Serbia and Vojvodina – the participants of the Conference took nice memories, which was confirmed by Pamella Buel from the Canadian Public Agency “Parks Canada” that is in charge of natural properties: “I will never forget the hospitality you provided to us, nor many beautiful events that you organised in order to show us your canals, culture, and tradition”.
