10th CIOE closes with new records, attracting 15% more exhibitors and 10% more visitors

In the year of its anniversary, the world’s largest exhibition for optoelectronics attracted 15% more exhibitors and 10% more visitors and increased the exhibition area by 18% compared to 2007. The exhibition was organised by Shenzhen BMC Herong Exhibition Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Business Media China AG.

Covering a total exhibition area of 65,000 sqm, the CIOE enlarged its scale by 18% compared to the previous year and underlined its position as the largest exhibition for the global optoelectronics industry. The three exhibition halls of the Shenzhen Exhibition and Convention Center were divided into four specialised exhibition zones, presenting the latest innovations in the fields of optical communication, lasers and infrared applications, precision optics, and LED lighting and displays.

The number of participating companies set another record in the optoelectronics industry: More than 2,173 companies used the CIOE as a platform for their latest products and technologies, which means a 15% increase compared to the previous year. International companies and brands such as JDSU, Olympus, SENKO, Neophotonics, Merck, and ASM accounted for more than 37% of the exhibitors. Many of them have participated in the CIOE for many years – e.g., the German SCHOTT AG, which joined the CIOE in 2002 and considers the exhibition the most important event in China.

Once more, the highlights of the exhibition’s international zones were the country pavilions from Canada and France. As an exhibitor of the Canadian Pavilion, Ruben Burga of IRphotonics states: “The CIOE is a complete exhibition with a quality similar to the Photonics West in the USA. We have experienced great visitor traffic with more than 20 promising leads per day.” The pavilion organisers –the French Trade Commission and the Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA) – also expressed their satisfaction and have already reserved exhibition space for 2009. For the next year, country pavilions from Germany and the United Kingdom are planned.

During the four days, the number of visitors surging through the halls reached 85,000, an increase of 10% compared to 2007. Moreover, UK Trade and Investment organised a UK delegation of 10 companies to the CIOE. Arranging a matchmaking event on September 8, the delegation brought Chinese and international suppliers and buyers from the optoelectronics industry together.

In addition to the exhibition, the CIOE offered a three-day conference for China’s optoelectronics industry that dealt with both scientific and practical issues. The exhibition and the conference were supported by all important Chinese universities as well as by optoelectronics-related state institutions: the China Association for Science and Technology, the Academy of Opto-Electronics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Optical Society, the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of the Information Industry.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the CIOE this year, an impressive anniversary banquet provided the perfect opportunity for the organiser to express their appreciation to all supporters of the CIOE.

Eike Scholl, General Manager Exhibitions & Conferences of Business Media China AG, expressed his satisfaction: “With the development of CIOE this year, we were able to enhance our position as the number one event for the optoelectronics industry in China. For the next year, we expect that the exhibition will show robust growth again. Besides, we will continue to develop the international character of the fair.”