27 May 2009 - The Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX), Asia's largest gathering of government leaders, business personalities and industry professionals from the infocomm and media sectors, will return for its fifth year from 15 - 19 June in Singapore. Expect to see and hear even more of the latest in infocomm at imbX this year, as a series of new events have been planned.
Singapore, 27 May 2009 | For Immediate Release
Opportunity For Industries in Region to Step Up Amidst Global Gloom
The Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX), Asia's largest gathering of government leaders, business personalities and industry professionals from the infocomm and media sectors, will return for its fifth year from 15 - 19 June in Singapore. The reality of digital convergence will be ubiquitous at imbX 2009 and the event will be a showcase of how pervasive communications and broadcast technologies will continue to change the way people work, live and interact.
Amid the global slowdown, there are still opportunities and prospects for investment and development in Asia. imbX 2009 will take an increasingly prominent role as a networking platform for movers and shakers of the infocomm and media industries to interact and discuss issues on the challenges and opportunities in their related fields.
The infocomm industry's strength is evident despite the unpredictable conditions in the global economy. Infocomm sectors in many Asian countries are out-performing the rest of the economy. IDC1 has projected that the combined telecom services market of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to reach US$35.7 billion in 2009, which is 10 per cent higher than its 2008 performance.
Acknowledged as essential in enabling operational efficiencies and developing new business opportunities, investment in infocomm technology (or ICT) is set to continue. A recent example is the Singapore Government's announcement of investments of up to S$1.73 billion in infocomm projects for the public sector for 2009. These projects range from the delivery of government e-services to developing national infocomm infrastructure.
Asia's media sector has also enjoyed steady growth, with projects in key markets continuing an uptrend in making international breakthroughs. Recognising the growth prospects of this strategic sector, the Singapore Government announced that it will set aside S$230 million over five years under the Singapore Media Fusion plan to develop the local media industry, representing a 40 per cent increase in funding from the previous Media 21 blueprint. Research and development in Interactive Digital Media remains the key component of this thrust.
The primary stakeholders in imbX are Singapore Exhibition Services (SES), the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF), the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA).
Platform for Inter-Government Exchange
imbX 2009 will host the fifth Ministerial Forum on ICT, a closed-door meeting for ministers and senior government officials throughout the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern regions. The forum, which is organised by IDA, is themed "ICT: Transforming government, businesses and society". Invited industry experts and ministers will share their views on the role of government policies in encouraging investments and stimulating ICT adoption, entrepreneurship and competition. Opportunities for public-private sector engagement have also been planned.
More Infocomm Events
Regulators, industry leaders and businesses can expect to see and hear even more of the latest in infocomm at imbX this year, as a series of new events have been planned. One key event, the Next Generation Broadband Forum, will make its debut at the CommunicAsia2009 Summit. This forum, organised by SES and supported by IDA, will offer a timely platform for regional and global policy-makers, regulators, industry leaders to exchange their views on the deployment of Next Generation Broadband Networks. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Deputy Secretary-General Zhao Houlin will deliver the Forum's keynote address, followed by leading speakers from countries like Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong, Sweden and New Zealand. In addition to the conference tracks, participants can also visit the IDA exhibition booth to witness first-hand the range of Next Generation Services that these networks can deliver.
The inaugural iGov Global Exchange, which will be held concurrently with imbX, will be jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance and IDA, in partnership with SES. This event, which consists of a forum, an exhibition and site visits, will gather global e-Government experts who will share on opportunities and challenges in serving the needs of increasingly sophisticated end-users. It will be an open international platform for governments and industry players to showcase their achievements and innovations in e-Government, thereby facilitating mutual learning and sharing among participants.
RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer, IDA said, "The imbX offers an excellent platform for participants to learn about the latest infocomm trends, products and services, as well as seek new partnerships and business opportunities. We will continue to work with the industry and other government agencies to develop new programmes and activities at the imbX to allow for an active exchange of ideas and experiences."
Developing the Media Industry
Singapore's media industry has experienced steady growth over the years since the 2003 launch of the Media 21 Plan, contributing S$5 billion (US$3.45 billion) value-added and S$19.5 billion (US$13.46 billion) revenue to Singapore's GDP. Employment has also grown to 54,700 as at 2006 and media funds based in Singapore have snowballed to S$1.3 billion (US$ 897 million) to date.
With technological advancements transforming the way media is produced, distributed and consumed, the MDA has extended its national blueprint to enable Singapore to better respond to the altered media landscape. The Singapore Media Fusion Plan (SMFP) strives to position Singapore as a trusted global capital for New Asia Media, with initiatives that strengthen the media ecosystem and support the creation of innovative content, applications and services with global appeal. The most recent initiative announced under the SMFP is the new International Film Fund (IFF) aimed at promoting the co-production of animation and live-action features as wells as post-production projects of global appeal with international partners.
The SMFP will be showcased at the 1,200-square metre Singapore Pavilion at BroadcastAsia2009, alongside updates of the 19-hectare infrastructure project, Mediapolis @ one-north, which is a state-of-the-art media complex comprising sound stages, digital production, post production, broadcast and distribution facilities.
In addition, the Pavilion will house over 35 Singapore-based companies displaying cutting-edge technologies and solutions for the broadcast industry, including digital signage and broadcast equipment.
"MDA has been working hand-in-hand with the private sector to strengthen the media ecosystem. Through SMFP, we will promote innovation, grow the talent pool and strengthen our media infrastructure to better position ourselves as one of the best cities for business. BroadcastAsia not only provides an opportunity for us to collectively showcase to the world the best of Singapore innovation in the digital broadcast space, it is also a testament that Singapore is a compelling place to do business in all aspects of the media ecosystem - from content to technology to application and across multiple platforms," said Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, MDA.
CommunicAsia2009 and BroadcastAsia2009
2009 marks CommunicAsia's 30th anniversary, thirty years during which the event has stayed ahead of its time, serving as the platform for launching technology breakthroughs that have changed the way people and businesses communicate and interact. As the Asian infocomm markets grew exponentially, CommunicAsia's role as the key platform to building links into emerging markets in the region was and remains critical to the operations of international companies.
This year, CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia are expected to feature about 2,000 exhibiting companies from 65 countries and regions from across the globe. Visitors can look forward to exciting displays from market leaders like Blackberry, Google, Harris, Huawei, LG, Navteq, Panasonic, Samsung, Yahoo! and ZTE.
CommunicAsia2009 will focus on the latest Hot Technologies for applications, solutions and hardware to cater to companies' demand for cutting edge technologies to meet the challenges posed by today's tough economic climate. These key technologies, which are already starting to have a huge impact on our lives include IPTV, Mobile Entertainment, WiMAX, Navigation & LBS, Satellite, Femtocell, Green IT, and Mobile Internet.
In response to the buzzing media industry development in Asia, BroadcastAsia2009 will feature key technologies that draw huge interest and demand from the market. These include Broadcast-to-Handheld/Mobile TV, Digital Media Asset Management, High-Definition Technology, IPTV, Mobile Broadcasting and Professional Audio Technology.
Featured for the first time at BroadcastAsia2009 is Digital Signage, a response to the growing global demands of the retail, hospitality, transportation and entertainment industries for a dynamic medium to captivate their audiences. A form of electronic display that is installed in public spaces, Digital Signage is set to replace the conventional printed posters with state-of-the-art digital display panels.
"CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia offer the stage to witness digital convergence in reality. As Asia's potential shines through in the global gloom, the exhibitions serve as key platforms for solution providers in the region to showcase their technologies to a global audience as well as launch pads for international companies eager to explore the opportunities and increase their business footprint in the continent," said Mr Stephen Tan, Chief Executive of Singapore Exhibition Services (SES).
Bringing Infocomm Singapore to a Global Audience
In its drive to promote the "Infocomm Singapore" brand globally, SiTF will again be making a major presence in CommunicAsia this year by organising more than 30 exhibitors in the Infocomm Singapore Pavilion. The initiative also contributes to the association's mission to facilitate worldwide business development and marketing for its members.
Knowledge-Sharing and Thought Leadership
The four-day CommunicAsia2009 Summit will highlight on infrastructure technologies and leveraging these to increase profitability. The Summit will feature a balance of mainstay business and technology issues and delegates can look forward to relevant conference topics like Mobile Services and Business Models, Network Enablers and Architectures, Satellite Communications Forum, Green Telecoms, Mobile Marketing and Advertising, Mobile TV and Entertainment, and IPTV.
Also making a debut is Green Telecoms, which focuses on rolling out green networks and green data centres to achieve energy efficiency and improve business profitability. Key industry topics in mobile and wireless technologies from HSPA to LTE to WiMAX will also be addressed, and the business challenges and opportunities explored.
The Summit will feature more than 100 speakers from industry giants like Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, THAICOM, Telekom Malaysia, City Telecom (HK), Intel Corporation, TANBERG Television, and Yahoo!.
The BroadcastAsia2009 International Conference, encompassing eight different programmes, will feature more than 90 key speakers from industry leaders such as BBC, IBM, HP, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), MediaCorp, Microsoft Corporation, Motorola Asia Pacific and NTT Corporation. The leading broadcast and media conference in Asia, the conference was developed through years of experience and is condensed and delivered in a digestible format in four days. It is an opportunity to gather with peers to share and identify the directions for the media, broadcasting, multimedia and entertainment industries.
For the first time this year, the conference will have an Opening Plenary for all delegates, speakers and invited guests. As the world anticipates the economic recovery, it is appropriate that this plenary session seeks to understand if perceived "problems" are in fact opportunities. Participants of the plenary will also be able to learn how forced reassessment and changes in the industry can be beneficial in the long term by bringing more efficient and greener solutions.
JOINTLY ISSUED BY INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE, MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE EXHIBITION SERVICES PTE LTD AND SINGAPORE INFOCOMM TECHNOLOGY FEDERATION
Note to Editor:
1 26 February 2009 - Southeast Asia Telecoms Market will Remain Resilient in 2009, says IDC- www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prID21711409
Related Resources:
About the Infocomm Media Business Exchange
The Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX) is Asia's largest infocomm and media business platform that brings together business leaders, companies and industry professionals to showcase their latest innovations, network, exchange ideas and tap new markets. The stakeholders in imbX are Singapore Exhibition Services (SES), the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF), Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA). To be held from 15 to 19 June, imbX incorporates CommunicAsia2009, BroadcastAsia2009, EnterpriseIT2009, InteractiveDME, CG Overdrive 2009 and a host of complementary events. For further information on imbX, please visit www.visit-imbx.com.
About the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is committed to growing Singapore into a dynamic global infocomm hub. IDA uses an integrated approach to developing info-communications in Singapore. This involves nurturing a competitive telecoms market as well as a conducive business environment with programmes and schemes for both local and international companies. For more news and information, visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/.
About the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)
Formed in 2003, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) plays a vital role in transforming Singapore into a Global Media City and positioning it at the forefront of the digital media age. MDA spearheads initiatives that promote developments in film, video, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation, media services and Interactive Digital Media. At the same time, in ensuring clear and consistent regulatory policies and guidelines, MDA helps to foster a pro-business environment for industry players and increase media choices for consumers. For more information, please visit www.mda.gov.sg and www.smf.sg.
About Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd
Set up in 1976, Singapore Exhibition Services (SES) has established itself as one of the most innovative and respected exhibition and conference organisers in Asia. A pioneer in the Singapore exhibition industry, SES events have served as important platforms for companies aiming to forge new business contacts in Asia. With a portfolio of international tradeshows already serving the Communications, Engineering, Machinery and Lifestyle industries, SES continues to develop new events to meet market needs. SES events consistently attract a high level of overseas participation with foreign exhibitors accounting for almost 80% of the show floor. SES is a member of Allworld Exhibitions Alliance, a global network with over 50 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sesallworld.com.
About SiTF
The Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) is Singapore's premier infocomm industry association. It brings together almost 400 corporate members from MNCs and local companies. The SiTF assists our members in business development, market intelligence, overseas trade missions, networking and alliances.
SiTF has eight chapters under its wing - Best Sourcing, Digital Media, eGovernment, eLearning, Singapore Enterprise, Security & Governance, Service Oriented Architecture and Wireless. SiTF also owns and manages the Infocomm Singapore Centre (ISC) in Shanghai and has a joint venture with Hangzhou e-Software Park (HZESP) to set up the solution centre in Hangzhou, China, to give local infocomm companies a foothold into the China market. For more information on SiTF, please visit www.sitf.org.sg.
For more Information, please contact:
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
HO Ka Wei (Mr)
Manager
Corporate & Marketing Communication
Fax: +65 6211 2227
Email: info@imda.gov.sg
Media Development Authority
Mala Devi PADMANATHAN (Ms)
Assistant Manager, Communications
Tel: +65 6377 3800/ 9728 9872
Email: Mala_Devi_PADMANATHAN@imda.gov.sg
Singapore Exhibition Services
Eric YUM (Mr)
PR Manager
Tel: +65 6233 8611
Fax: +65 6835 3040
Email: ey@sesallworld.com
Singapore infocomm Technology Federation
SIM Wee Leng (Mr)
Industrial Development Manager
Tel: +65 6325 9711
Fax: +65 6325 4993
Email: weeleng@sitf.org.sg
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