Opening day - AQUA SUR 2008
The first AQUA SUR began 2002 with the intention of representing the southern version of Trondheim’s AQUA NOR. Its relatively humble beginning drew in 5,300 visitors, and 400 exhibitors from 20 countries. This year the show (six years later) has attracted 15,000 visitors, and 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries. Alltech Aqua, Bank Bci, Lan Cargo sponsor the event, and Telefónica del Sur. Norway by far represents the majority of foreign visitor attendance, political representatives from both Norway and Chile signed an agreement that ratifies the intention on behalf of both countries to become sister cities. The point of this agreement is to be able to exchange information such as urbanism, socio-cultural issues, sports, production and export, development projects, technical assistance, health, and education and donations. The sobering part of the AQUA NOR inauguration was the march of union workers in their processing plant uniforms through the main aisle of the trade show. Their message, “45 days on strike – we demand a renegotiation with our employer, Aguas Claras”. Aguas Claras is a salmon company owned by Empresas AquaChile.
