AEEMA looking to US market

The Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA) will be establishing Australia's inaugural exhibition at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to be held in Las Vegas in 2007.

CES is one of the world's largest technology tradeshows, which this year attracted some 150,000 visitors from 110 countries witnessing the introduction of thousands of new products and technologies from more than 2,500 exhibitors. CES attracts the world's best developers of consumer electronics devices and related services, with a strong focus on wireless, home networking and automotive telematics.

AEEMA's chief executive Angus M Robinson said, "This move to host a significant presence in CES's International Pavilion is a key initiative of the Electronics Industry Action Agenda and builds on several years of relationship building in the US market, emulating parallel efforts in building a presence for the electronics industry in the Greater China Region, particularly through Taiwan."

He also said, "AEEMA will be working closely with the Austrade team both in Australia and the US to ensure that the best of Australian technology companies, including those involved in wireless technologies, are showcased in this exhibition".

Robinson believes that AEEMA's proactive approach of building and marketing Australia's capability offshore and working closely with Austrade will assist its members achieve success in exporting.

He said, "With a major FTA agreement in place with the US, and with small Australian technology companies already achieving success in the US through exposure at CES, the time was now right to strategically market the 'Technology Australia' brand and to enter the world's largest consumer market."

Robinson also said that the Australian hi-tech industries need to put every effort into working with government agencies to increase exports of high technology products and services.

"The quarterly trade figures announced this week are a real continuing concern, and there is an urgent need for our industry to be working to complement export imperatives in other industry sectors, so as to achieve a performance turnaround for the long term".

Companies wishing to be considered as participants of the CES 'Technology Australia' 2007 exhibition are invited to express an expression of interest by contacting AEEMA's manager international, Janice Humphreys, by email at jhumphreys@aeema.asn.au