Danish support to improved water quality in Central and Eastern Europe 1991-2001
Chapter 7
Export of Danish Know-how and Technology
| 7.1 | The Danish Expertise |
| 7.2 | Product Export |
| 7.3 | Consultancy Export |
The Danish Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment has supported the development of equipment and technology so that wastewater can be treated in the best way possible and groundwater reserves better protected. A significant additional benefit is the technological innovations, which provide Danish companies great export opportunities in international markets. In 1998 Danish companies exported for more than EUR 270 million within the water sector alone. About 12% of all Danish product export to the water sector went to the CEEC. Of the total export of consultancy services 36% went to the CEEC.
About 80 different companies or public institutions have been project holders of the 400 DANCEE water environment projects. A similar amount of sub-suppliers have been involved.
When OECD at the end of the 1990ies accessed the Danish environmental policy it concluded that the Danish environmental policies did not adversely affect Denmark's economic growth or international competitiveness - on the contrary. According to the OECD, environmental protection is an important sale pitch for Danish industry.
7.2 Product export
The value of product export to the water sector was calculated in 1998 as more than EUR 220 million, equal to 0.5% of Denmark's total exports in 1998. The export to the CEEC has been promoted and stimulated through DANCEE supported projects. In the beginning of the 1990ies this export was almost totally donor financed. Through the 1990ies some Danish companies have increased their export reducing their dependency on Danish donor projects. Customers to Danish products are projects, which are financed through combination of local and international contributions.
Company |
Annual turnover 2000 |
DANCEE-turnover |
Grundfos |
Approx. 130 |
< 1% |
Per Aarsleff |
19,7 |
17% |
Alfa Laval |
5,2 |
12% |
Annual turnover on the CEEC market for selected Danish suppliers/contractors Within water
supply the product exports have been dominated by groundwater pumps, valves and control
systems for groundwater supply, equipment for water works and rehabilitation of water
networks.
Within wastewater the product exports have constituted online monitors, valves, pumps and aeration equipment for wastewater treatment plants, sludge dewatering equipment, turn-key treatment plants, automatic control systems and sewer rehabilitation technology.
For the cleaner technology projects in the industrial sector product exports have included installations for saving water consumption and a variety of equipment related to the individual production type with the purpose of reducing consumption of resources. Product exports have also included improvement to the working environment.
Within receiving water projects the Danish product exports have included automatic water quality monitoring stations both on rivers and at the sea, environmental information systems, river modelling programmes, laboratory equipment and a variety of nature preservation equipment.
Control equipment for marine oil spill incidents are exported, which includes ships, booms, and oil skimmers. Export to improve reception facilities for ship-generated waste, which includes pumps and tanks.
7.3 Consultancy export
A broad range of Danish consultancy companies and specialist institutes export consultancy services to the water sector.
The Danish environmental assistance programmes have allowed Danish consultancy companies to gain experience in working with environmental problems in the CEEC-markets and to build-up new markets preparing these companies to participate in the competition for future international project export.
The total annual turnover on the CEEC-market for members of the Danish Association of Consulting Engineers grew from almost 2000 in 1990 to over EUR 40 million in year 2000 on water projects. Of this 35% was on DANCEE financed projects.
Location of subsidiaries for selected Danish industries and consultancy companies
References
Environment News, No. 41: Danish Environmental Exports of Products and Consultancy services within the Water sector in 1998. Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 2000.
Direct contact to selected companies.
FRI (Danish Association of Consulting Engineers): Statistical report 2001.