World's largest ICT expo

CeBIT 2008 to highlight 'Green IT'

CeBIT 2008 will focus on environmentally-friendly computers and other information technology systems.

Due to open its doors to the public on Tuesday in the northern city of Hanover, CeBIT will be presenting solutions, products and innovations addressing the issues of energy efficiency in the ICT industry and ICT user industries.

This year's CeBIT whose partner country will be France, has for the first time adopted a new display concept based on four major categories 'Business Solutions', 'Public Sector Solutions', 'Home and Mobile Solutions' and 'Technology & Infrastructure'.

Another key component of the new-look show is the reorganized supporting program, now known as CeBIT Global Conference.

A total of 5,845 exhibitors from 77 countries, including Iran, will display their hi-tech gadgetry at this year's fair.

The decline in the number of exhibitors, down from 6,153 in 2007, was partially to the weak US dollar which has dramatically boosted costs for exhibitors from major ICT countries.

Another reason for the sharp drop in the number of exhibitors was the three percent-raise of value added tax in Germany.

Meanwhile, China has now surpassed Taiwan for the first time in the history of CeBIT as the largest foreign exhibitor, with 500 companies.

Many hardware manufacturers have shifted their production from Taiwan to China.

Last year, some 469 Chinese exhibitors showcased their products, while in 2008 Taiwan fell to second place with 490 exhibitors, compared to 599 in 2007.

The individual exhibitor stands and special displays at CeBIT 2008 cover an area of around 241,000 square meters.

In other related news, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were to officially inaugurate the six-day IT fair later in the evening.