Mission Statement

Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program at CommunicAsia 2004
June 15-18, 2004, Singapore


Event Description:

The U.S. Department of Commerce's office in Singapore and the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration's (ITA) Asia Pacific Team are organizing the Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program at CommunicAsia 2004.

The Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program affords lower-cost access to small and medium-sized IT, telecommunication and broadcasting companies by allowing them to participate in CommunicAsia 2004 through use of a shared U.S. Commercial Service booth as well as a multi-service package provided by Commercial Service personnel.


The Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program at 2004 includes:

Commercial Setting:

CommunicAsia2004 is the largest ICT showcase in Asia with over 37,322 visitors and 1,442 exhibitors from 89 countries last year! In 2002, CommunicAsia saw a gathering of industry professionals from all over the world (1/3 of the participants were from overseas!) where business and networking opportunities played center-stage amidst a showcase of the latest ICT. This year, CommunicAsia 2004 will be back with an ICT showcase more exciting than ever! A new show, EnterpriseIT, designed as a showcase platform for IT solutions, software and hardware providers, joins MobileCommAsia, NetworkAsia and SatComm under CommunicAsia's umbrella of shows, with 5 pavilions dedicated to the industry's most talked-about technologies, such as Bluetooth, Optical Networking, Security Solutions, Wireless Internet and Smart Card.

Asia is the world's fastest growing market for Internet use and broadband use. This fact offers opportunities for wire-line and wireless technology platforms, next generation network technology, Internetworking of technologies.

In terms of fixed line and cellular penetration rates in the region, Hong Kong's fixed lines density is among the highest in Asia at 56%, while other countries with high teledensity include Japan with 48.1%, Australia at 98%, 46.4 % in Singapore, 49% in South Korea; Taiwan at 48%, and Russia at 33%. Cell phone penetration is also high in these markets--62.7% in Japan and 86% in Hong Kong, for example.

Among Asian countries with lower teledensity rates are Indonesia at 3.7%, India, Thailand with 14%, Malaysia at 18.8% and the Philippines with 8.91%. Cell phone penetration rates in developing markets are also relatively low, ranging from 1.1% (India) to 5.2% (Indonesia).

Asia's active adoption of both new, and in many markets, the leading edge wire-line and wireless technology platforms have created more demand for U.S. broadband content applications, and services to support the following:

Mission Goals:

The goal of the Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program at CommunicAsia 2004 is to facilitate an effective presence for small to medium-sized companies without incurring the major expenses associated with purchasing and staffing standard exhibition space. The Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program enables U.S. telecom and broadcasting companies to familiarize themselves with this important trade fair, to conduct market research, and to explore export opportunities through pre-screened meetings with potential partners.

The Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program also allows U.S. companies to have a presence at the show, providing them with an enhanced image and level of engagement, an office infrastructure environment, and the support of knowledgeable Commercial Service staff and personal assistants focused on furthering company-specific objectives. Access to Singapore and other Asian markets and business partners is made possible through the Co-Exhibitor Program in a manner, which cannot be matched by simply attending the show as a visitor.

Mission Scenario:

The maximum number of participants is ten. U.S. Department of Commerce ITA Asia Pacific Team members and other domestic office trade specialists will recruit and counsel prospective participants for the CommunicAsia 2004 Asia Now Co-exhibitor Program. Company information and literature will be forwarded by the companies to U.S. Department of Commerce office in Singapore whereupon it will begin the partner search, management and logistical coordination of the program.

Company literature and promotional material will be shipped to U.S. Department of Commerce office in Singapore or sent electronically. No exhibition or larger demonstration items are appropriate and will not be permitted. U.S. Department of Commerce staff will be available for information and assistance throughout the duration of the CommunicAsia 2004 show and an Asia Pacific Team member will be on-site through June 18.

Timetable:

An Asia Pacific Team member will arrive in Singapore prior to the show. Participants will arrive in Singapore on their own schedule and will report to the Asia Now Co-Exhibitor program headquarters site, on June 15, 2004. At this time, they will be briefed by U.S. Department of Commerce staff on program features, receive a country/regional briefing on market opportunities, and later begin their series of meetings (avg. three meetings per day for two days).

Criteria for Participant Selection

This Asia Now Co-Exhibitor Program participation promotion will be conducted primarily by U.S. Department of Commerce ITA Asia Pacific Team members and other trade specialists in domestic U.S. Department of Commerce offices and supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce office in Singapore and other international U.S. Department of Commerce offices. Promotion/recruitment will include, but not be limited to, publication in domestic trade publications and association newsletters, mailings from internal mailing lists, Winfaxes to internal database telecom clients, email to telecom distribution lists and through posting on the International Trade Administration's home page and in the Federal Register. Recruitment will begin immediately and close approximately May 17, 2004.

A company's products and/or services must be manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished good or service.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.


Contact information:

Mari Felton
International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
152 N. 3rd St., Suite 550
San Jose, CA 95112-5591
Tel: 408-271-7300x104
Fax: 408-271-7306
E-mail: mari.felton@mail.doc.gov
Web site: www.buyusa.gov/norcal

Maura Kim
International Trade Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce,
U.S. Export Assistance Center in LA
Tel: (310) 235-7207 Office cel: (310) 597-3573
E-mail: Maura.Kim@mail.doc.gov

Chia Swee Hoon (Ms.)
Senior Commercial Specialist
Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy, Singapore
27 Napier Road
Singapore 258508
Tel: 65/6476-9403
Fax: 65/6476-9080
E-mail: sweehoon.chia@mail.doc.gov
Web site: www.buyusa.gov/singapore