By James Wells
BERLIN: Organisers of the world’s largest consumer electronics show – IFA 2007 have reported record attendance of 235,000 people with 1,212 companies from 32 countries exhibiting at the event over 160,000 square metres.
Previously a bi-annual event, this is the second year IFA has run as an annual event, combining consumer attendance with trade buying from retail clients that is estimated to have exceeded 2.5 billion Euros ($A4.2 billion).
According to the organisers, this year’s event saw an increase in rented space of 12 per cent. Overseas exhibitor attendance from 733 companies – 60 per cent of the total 1,212 exhibitors.
“Each year the IFA is the most important international platform for the continued development of the consumer electronics industry,” said Messe Berlin COO Dr. Christian Göke.
”The IFA 2007 has certainly been a massive success for us. Some best-ever results, with 15 per cent more exhibitors, 10 per cent increases in the numbers of trade visitors and the general public, and 10 per cent more orders for brand name manufacturers all tell the same story”, Göke said.
“The IFA has now become the leading trade show for the CE industry,” said chairman of the consumer electronics trade association, Hans-Joachim Kamp.
“Our industry is benefiting from the positive mood among consumers, which is also reflected by the volume of orders at the IFA 2007. It gives a clear signal of the upward trend,” Kamp said.
“With increases in the volume of orders by around 10 per cent among brand name manufacturers another significant point has been reached, indicating in particular the continuous development in ordering activity,” he said.