IFAT India Draws 20,118 Visitors to Mumbai

IFAT India 2026 brought together 20,118 business visitors and more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries at Mumbai’s Bombay Exhibition Centre from September 9 to 11. Organized by Messe Muenchen India, the event hosted government agencies, urban local bodies, utilities, industrial users and technology suppliers working across water, wastewater, waste management and recycling. More than 235 pre-scheduled buyer-seller meetings focused on project requirements and technology partnerships. Six country pavilions represented China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Norway and the Netherlands.

Technology For Water And Waste

Exhibitors presented technologies for water and wastewater treatment, treated-water reuse, digital monitoring, membrane systems and Zero Liquid Discharge, alongside waste collection, recycling, biogas, refuse-derived fuel and energy recovery systems.

New products included Fornax’s R-MAX3300 for alternative fuel and raw material pre-processing; NX Filtration’s Integrated Rack for ultrafiltration systems; Micro Transmission Systems’ Back Rake Screen for large channels and drains; Fivebro Water Services’ SUMO-TESK multistage centrifugal pumps; and Thermax’s Miracle system for high-TDS water treatment.

Bhupinder Singh, President – IMEA, Messe München, and CEO, Messe Muenchen India, said:

“India's environmental infrastructure agenda is entering a delivery-led phase. Technology choices must perform under local operating conditions, align with procurement frameworks and deliver measurable outcomes. IFAT India 2026 allowed decision-makers to assess solutions against real project requirements and engage directly with potential partners. Bringing these conversations closer to investment and implementation is where the platform creates lasting value.”

Policy And Project Delivery

The event’s Blue, Orange and Green Stages examined water security, sanitation, resource recovery, infrastructure finance and climate-resilient urban development under the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework. KPMG served as knowledge partner.

The All India Institute of Local Self-Government led the Chief Engineers’ Forum, supported by AMRUT 2.0, and a national conference organized with UNICEF India. The forums addressed execution, technology adoption, long-term performance, sanitation and waste-management planning across rural and urban India.

Dr. Jairaj Phatak, IAS (Retd.), Director General, AIILSG, said:

“AIILSG brings 100 years legacy of supporting urban governance and service delivery. Our nine-year journey with IFAT India has grown into a powerful platform for transforming municipal dialogue into actionable governance. As the Government Partner for Strategic Connect, AIILSG took pride at IFAT India 2026 in uniting grassroots innovation with high-level policy advocacy. While our specialised conference sessions tackled pressing frameworks around circularity, wastewater, and urban climate resilience, the ULB Pavilion provided a national stage for local bodies to present their indigenously engineered solutions. This seamless integration of technical discourse and ground-level validation is precisely what bridges policy intent with scalable execution. We value our enduring collaboration with Messe Muenchen India in steering local bodies in India toward a self-reliant, sustainable urban future.”

Buyer Meetings And Next Event

Municipal and industrial buyers used the exhibition to assess technology fit, lifecycle and service requirements, retrofit opportunities and integration with existing infrastructure. The Buyer-Seller Forum arranged more than 235 meetings between exhibitors and buyers from India and international markets.

IFAT India is scheduled to return to Mumbai from September 29 to October 1, 2027, covering water, wastewater, waste management, recycling and circular-economy sectors.

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, IAS (Retd.), Former Director General, NMCG; Advisor, NIUA; and Chairman, IFAT India Advisory Committee, said:

“India's water and waste-management priorities require faster translation of policy into projects that deliver lasting results and help sustainability. IFAT India brings government, industry and technology providers together to address the practical challenges surrounding implementation, financing and operations. This collective effort will be critical to building water secure and resilient cities and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”