Countdown to WEE & GIE 2025: CEO Swadesh Kumar Shares What to Expect

TFT: You are organizing both World Environment Expo in June and Gas India Expo in July. Please tell our readers about these events?

SK: “The World Environment Expo and Gas India Expo are two significant platforms that focus on sustainability and clean energy in India.

The World Environment Expo (WEE) is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and green innovation. It brings together government agencies, industry leaders, researchers, and environmental organizations to discuss key issues like climate change, renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable development. It serves as a hub for showcasing eco-friendly technologies and fostering global cooperation in environmental protection.

On the other hand, the Gas India Expo (GIE) specifically focuses on the natural gas and clean energy sector. It highlights innovations in gas infrastructure, LNG, pipeline safety, and low-emission technologies. GIE supports India’s energy transition goals by facilitating discussions around decarbonization, energy efficiency, and policy development.

Together, these expos contribute to India’s vision for a greener, more sustainable future by promoting both environmental solutions and clean energy advancements.”

First, the World Environment Expo (WEE) 2025, scheduled from June 4th to 6th, is focused on promoting environmental sustainability and technological innovation. It serves as a comprehensive platform where industry leaders, policymakers, environmentalists, and technology providers come together to showcase solutions in areas like renewable energy, water and waste management, pollution control, and sustainable infrastructure. We’re also hosting the World Environment Conference alongside the expo, themed “Save Nature – Save Future,” where experts will discuss the path forward for a cleaner, greener planet.

Following that, from July 24th to 26th, we’ll host the Gas India Expo (GIE) 2025, which centers around India’s transition to a gas-based economy. This event will highlight the latest advancements in natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, and industrial gas technologies. The expo is complemented by a high-level conference themed “Mantra of India’s Gas-based Economy: Abundance, Availability, Affordability, and Acceptability,” focusing on energy security, clean fuel policies, and infrastructure development.

Both expos aim to foster meaningful dialogue, partnerships, and innovation in their respective domains—environment and energy—while supporting India’s broader goals of sustainability and energy independence.

TFT: What is the overarching vision that drives these two significant events, and what key synergies, if any, do you see between them in the broader industrial landscape of India?

SK: “The overarching vision that drives both the World Environment Expo and the Gas India Expo is India’s transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon economy. These events reflect the country’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility—aligned with global goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

The World Environment Expo promotes a holistic view of environmental protection by showcasing solutions in renewable energy, waste management, air and water quality, and sustainable practices across sectors.

The Gas India Expo, while more focused on the natural gas and clean energy sector, plays a complementary role by emphasizing the importance of cleaner fossil fuels like natural gas as a bridge in the energy transition. It supports innovations in LNG, hydrogen, and infrastructure modernization—all crucial to reducing emissions from industrial and transportation sectors.

The key synergy between the two lies in their shared goal of enabling a greener industrial landscape—one that supports clean technologies, promotes policy advocacy, and facilitates cross-sector collaboration. Together, they create a unified platform where environmental sustainability and energy innovation intersect, driving India’s industrial ecosystem toward long-term resilience and global competitiveness.”

TFT: India has committed to reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030. What impact do you think the exhibitors participating in WEE 2025 will make to achieve this goal?

SK: “India’s commitment to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 is ambitious and vital for climate action. Exhibitors at World Environment Expo (WEE) 2025 will play a critical role in supporting this national target by providing the technologies, innovations, and solutions needed to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions.

Participants at WEE 2025—ranging from clean tech companies and renewable energy providers to waste management innovators and ESG-focused startups—will introduce scalable, energy-efficient, and low-carbon technologies that industries and municipalities can adopt. These include solar and wind solutions, carbon capture systems, electric mobility infrastructure, sustainable packaging, smart water management, and circular economy models.

More importantly, the Expo acts as a convergence point for policy makers, industry leaders, and environmental experts to collaborate on strategies for green transition. This synergy helps mainstream sustainable practices into business operations and urban planning, accelerating India’s movement toward its emissions intensity target.

So, the impact of WEE 2025 lies not only in showcasing green innovations but also in facilitating real adoption, partnerships, and policy alignment that directly contribute to India’s climate goals.”

TFT: There are several issues faced by the Oil and Gas Sector of India like High Import Dependency, Inadequate Pipeline Network, Regulatory Challenges, Environmental Concerns and Lack of Investments. How do you think Gas India Expo will address these issues?

SK: “The Gas India Expo serves as a strategic platform to address several of the pressing issues facing India’s oil and gas sector, including high import dependency, infrastructure gaps, regulatory hurdles, environmental concerns, and investment challenges.

1. High Import Dependency:
   GIE promotes domestic exploration, indigenous gas technologies, and alternative fuel options like bio-CNG and hydrogen. By showcasing innovations and policy support around local production, the Expo encourages reduced reliance on imported LNG and crude oil.
2. Inadequate Pipeline Network:
   The Expo brings together key infrastructure players, EPC contractors, and government bodies to discuss and demonstrate next-gen pipeline technologies, digital monitoring tools, and smart grid solutions that can help expand and modernize India’s pipeline and distribution network efficiently.
3. Regulatory Challenges:
   With active participation from policy-makers, think tanks, and regulatory bodies, GIE fosters dialogue that can influence policy reform. Panel discussions and roundtables often highlight the need for unified regulations, ease of doing business, and faster project clearances.
4. Environmental Concerns:
   Natural gas is often referred to as a transition fuel. GIE emphasizes cleaner gas technologies, methane leak detection systems, and low-emission transport solutions. These innovations help reduce the sector’s carbon footprint and support India’s climate commitments.
5. Lack of Investments:
   By connecting Indian companies with global investors, technology providers, and financial institutions, GIE serves as a catalyst for domestic and foreign investment. It helps build confidence through success stories, pilot project showcases, and B2B matchmaking.

In essence, Gas India Expo doesn’t just highlight problems—it curates solutions, encourages collaboration, and drives forward-looking action that aligns with India’s energy security and sustainability goals.”

TFT: Beyond the exhibition floors, what other activities or features (e.g., conferences, workshops, networking sessions) will be integral to both WEE and GIE to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration within their respective industries?

SK: “Beyond the exhibition floors, both the World Environment Expo (WEE) and Gas India Expo (GIE) are designed as holistic industry ecosystems that emphasize not just showcasing technologies, but also enabling meaningful knowledge exchange and collaboration. Key complementary activities at both events typically include:

1. Technical Conferences & Seminars:
   These sessions bring together experts, researchers, and policymakers to discuss emerging trends, regulatory frameworks, and technological breakthroughs. For WEE, topics may include climate adaptation, waste-to-energy, ESG frameworks, and circular economy. For GIE, themes often focus on gas infrastructure, hydrogen economy, carbon capture, and energy transition strategies.
2. Workshops & Training Programs:
   Hands-on workshops offer in-depth learning opportunities, often led by technology providers, academic institutions, or industry specialists. These may cover practical skills such as emissions monitoring, digital energy management, or pipeline integrity assessments.
3. B2B Meetings & Matchmaking Sessions:
   Pre-arranged networking sessions allow exhibitors, buyers, and solution seekers to connect directly—encouraging investment, joint ventures, and supply chain collaboration. This is especially critical for startups and SMEs looking to scale up or attract funding.
4. Policy Dialogues & Roundtables:
   Senior government officials and regulatory bodies often participate in closed-door roundtables to discuss how public-private collaboration can address sectoral challenges. These platforms influence future policy direction and encourage stakeholder alignment.
5. Innovation Pavilions & Startup Zones:
   Both expos typically feature dedicated areas where startups and research institutions can showcase disruptive solutions. These spaces promote innovation and help bridge the gap between academia, industry, and government.
6. Awards & Recognition Programs:
   By celebrating excellence in sustainability, innovation, and operational efficiency, these expos also help set benchmarks and inspire others in the industry to adopt best practices.

In short, WEE and GIE function as much more than trade shows—they are collaborative ecosystems that drive real progress through thought leadership, skill-building, and cross-sector engagement.”

TFT: What are the marketing initiatives taken to ensure the quality of audience and how one can register itself for the expo?

SK: “To ensure the quality and relevance of the audience at both the World Environment Expo and Gas India Expo, the organizers undertake targeted and strategic marketing initiatives aimed at attracting serious stakeholders from industry, government, and academia.

Key Marketing Initiatives Include:

1. Industry-Specific Outreach:
   Direct invitations and curated campaigns are sent to key decision-makers in sectors like energy, manufacturing, waste management, oil & gas, urban development, and transportation. This helps ensure that attendees are aligned with the event’s focus areas.
2. Partnerships with Trade Associations & Government Bodies:
   The expos collaborate with industry bodies like FICCI, CII, TERI, and relevant ministries (like the Ministry of Environment or Petroleum & Natural Gas), which adds credibility and attracts influential participants.
3. International Delegation Programs:
   Focused efforts are made to invite international delegations, technology providers, and investors through embassies, trade missions, and global partner networks—enhancing global exposure and collaboration.
4. Digital Marketing & Media Campaigns:
   Social media, targeted emailers, press releases, and thought-leadership content are used to generate interest and pre-qualify attendees based on their professional background and relevance.
5. Pre-registration & Screening:
   Many expos include a registration form where participants must specify their area of interest, industry role, and business purpose—helping the organizers filter and focus engagement strategies for serious and relevant attendees.

How to Register:

• Online Registration:
  Interested participants can visit the official websites of WEE or GIE (usually announced months in advance), where they can fill out an online registration form. Options typically include:
  • Delegate registration
  • Exhibitor registration
  • Media registration
  • Visitor pass (general or business)
• Onsite Registration:
  Limited onsite registration is often available but is subject to space and approval—early online registration is highly recommended for guaranteed access and pre-event engagement.
• Special Invitations:
  Some participants, especially those representing governments or large corporations, may be invited directly by the organizers or through partner institutions.

These initiatives ensure the expos are not just crowded, but curated—with high-quality, decision-making attendees who can drive real collaboration and progress.”

TFT: Finally, what message would you like to share with industry professionals about why they should not miss these events?

SK: “To industry professionals, my message is simple: the World Environment Expo and Gas India Expo are not just events—they are opportunities to be at the forefront of India’s green and energy transition.

In a time when sustainability, energy security, and innovation are shaping the future of every industry, these platforms offer unmatched access to emerging technologies, policy insights, and strategic partnerships. Whether you’re a business leader, policymaker, investor, or technologist, attending these expos will give you a competitive edge, expose you to global best practices, and connect you with the key players driving change.

Missing these events means missing out on the conversations, collaborations, and innovations that are defining the future of India’s environmental and energy landscape. It’s not just about keeping up—it’s about leading the way.”