CeBIT Australia 2012 on track for record year

 

MEDIA RELEASE

CeBIT Australia 2012 on track for record year

Sydney May 8 2012 – Two weeks before the doors open on the largest business event in the Asia Pacific region, CeBIT Australia 2012, the signs are already pointing to a bumper year.

On target to attract more than 520 exhibitors and 30,000 business visitors to Darling Harbour from May 22-24, there is a huge international presence lined up, led by a 70-strong delegation from the event’s Partner Country for 2012, India.

Managing Director, Jackie Taranto said the strong line-up indicates that business is bullish about the future despite the GFC.

“I launched CeBIT 11 years ago with just two halls, 15,870 visitors and 384 exhibitors. It is now one of the largest events, in size, held in Australia and each year, it generates millions of dollars of business for the economy.

“We already have delegations and companies from 16 countries and the largest-ever participation by State and Federal Government departments,” she said.

“With India as our Partner Country for 2012, we are delighted to have The Hon Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications & Information Technology and Minister of Human Resource Development attending as well.

India is Australia's 5th largest trading partner. Bilateral trade between India and Australia has increased annually by approximately 18% over the past five years, making India one of Australia's fastest growing trading partners.

“CeBIT always provides unparalleled opportunities for international and local trade and business and this year will be no exception,” Ms Taranto said.

CeBIT Australia delivers an annual economic boost of more than $A167m to the NSW and Australian economies* and since, its inception, has delivered an estimated more than two billion dollars of economic value to Australia.

CeBIT Australia’s 2012 theme will be “Trust and Security”, an issue facing all business today, as more and more processes are moved into cloud.

“Cloud technologies are the way of the future but there are still reservations about its adoption because of security questions,” Ms Taranto said.

“CeBIT 2012 will focus heavily on cloud, both in the Exhibition and in the Conference schedule. I can confidently say that anyone contemplating the future of cloud technologies will find everything they need to know under one roof in May.”

The Conference stream, which will be held over the three days of the event, will cover the topics of cloud, retail, e-health, e-government, mobile, AusInnovate and social enterprise.

Some of the world’s leading companies have already signed to exhibit at CeBIT Australia 2012 including:

         Huawei

         China Telecom

         Siemens

         Tata Consultancy Services

         Telstra

         Panasonic

         AAPT

         Dell

         HP

         Computer Associates Technologies

         Hitachi Data Systems

         Fujitsu PC

         Lenovo

         AVG

         3M

         D-Link

         TPG

         Rittal

         Nokia

         Symantec

         Volkswagen

         Schenker

         Samsung

         IBM

         Western Digital

         Sharp

         Netsuite

         MYOB

         Intel Electronics

         Kodak

         LG

*Source: Economic analysis undertaken at the conclusion of CeBIT Australia 2009 in conjunction with the NSW Government, Department of Industry and Investment.

CeBIT Australia – Darling Harbour Sydney – May 22-24

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Louise Di Francesco

VERVE

(0418) 617 869