To mark its 50th anniversary, the International Water and Irrigation Exhibition, SMAGUA, is launching a series of special events and activities to commemorate this milestone.

The first event took place yesterday, November 19th, less than four months before the 27th edition of the exhibition, at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. At this event, hosted by the Director General of Water, Dolores Pascual, President of the SMAGUA Committee from 2021 to 2023, the commemorative book “SMAGUA, a look at the past, present and future” was presented. The book compiles reflections and experiences on the exhibition's history from some of the most prominent figures in the sector, who have also been key players in SMAGUA's development.

The event was opened by the President of the Zaragoza Trade Fair, Jorge Villarroya, who expressed his gratitude to all the participating institutions, associations, and companies that have made it possible for SMAGUA to achieve its current relevance and prestige. He also announced that the 50th anniversary celebration will culminate in a gala on March 5th at the iconic Water Tower in Zaragoza, which “will not merely be a commemorative event, but rather the ideal setting to reflect on and work towards the ever-increasing challenges and opportunities facing the sector, on a path towards more efficient and sustainable water management.”

Following this, the General Director of Feria de Zaragoza, Rogelio Cuairán, presented the key points of the third SMAGUA 2025 organizing committee meeting, which also took place at the Ministry just before the book launch.

The event has experienced remarkable growth, with the addition of an extra pavilion to meet the high demand for space from exhibitors. Currently, 15% more companies have confirmed their attendance compared to the close of the last edition. Furthermore, there has been a 25% increase in contracted exhibition space. This growth clearly reflects the renewed interest of companies in showcasing their latest innovations and their commitment to an event that, edition after edition, strengthens its role as an international meeting point.

One of the highlights of SMAGUA 2025 will be its comprehensive technical sessions, organized under the theme “Governance, Digitalization, and Sustainability,” which the sector has identified as being of a high standard. Furthermore, to promote innovation, SMAGUA 2025 will once again include the Competition for Improvements and Technical Innovations and, for the first time, a Special Recognition for Research. This new award aims to highlight university and technology center projects that contribute to the development of the water sector.

The 2025 edition will also be characterized by its focus on internationalization, reflected in the organization of a brokerage event by the Confederation of Business Owners of Aragon and the Technological Institute of Aragon, in collaboration with the European Commission. This initiative, which will take place on March 4th and 5th, seeks to foster international business cooperation between the European Union, Africa, and Latin America.

Following the presentation of the event's current status, Carlos Arrazola, President of the Ebro River Basin Authority and current President of the SMAGUA Organizing Committee, participated in the book launch, which also includes his testimony highlighting the event as "an essential international benchmark in the fields of water, irrigation, and the environment, which has become especially important for river basin authorities given that it is a key meeting point for finding more efficient solutions to the challenges posed by the current climate context."

Roque Gistau, winner of the National Engineering Award in 2010 and also president of the SMAGUA Committee in 2006 and 2008, acted as a representative of the book's contributors, emphasizing the importance of trade fairs evolving from a purely commercial focus to one centered on technology, as SMAGUA does, highlighting advances in innovation and technological development. According to Gistau, "only through the sharing of knowledge, experience, and technology is it possible to address the current shortcomings in water management."

Dolores Pascual closed this first commemorative event, where she praised SMAGUA as a "mature, coherent, and cohesive event that reflects the capacity and potential of the sector." In her remarks, she underscored the importance of this fair both from a business perspective and for those interested in participating in the enriching technical sessions scheduled. Furthermore, he encouraged those who have not yet decided to attend to join and collaborate in the development of an event that is increasingly establishing itself as one of the most important trade fairs in our country.

The 27th edition of SMAGUA, the International Exhibition the Water and Irrigation Exhibition, organized by Feria de Zaragoza, will take place from March 4 to 6, 2025, sharing dates and synergies with the fourth edition of SPAPER (International Exhibition of machinery and equipment for pulp, paper and cardboard) and the third of EXPOFIMER (International Exhibition of Renewable Energy Maintenance); thus strengthening collaboration between the water, paper and cardboard machinery, and renewable energy maintenance sectors.