More than a 1,000 companies are taking part in the biggest information technology fair for the Middle East, Central Asia, East Europe and the Mediterranean region, which opened in Turkey on Wednesday.
"Informatics 2000: A CeBIT Event", is being held at the TUYAP fair center in Beylikduzu. "Its geographic properties, the changing political climate in the Black Sea region and the developments in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean have made Turkey a trade center in Eurasia in the last 10 years," said Joerg Schomburg, Deutsche Messe Ltd. general manager.
Hannover Fair Interpo International Fair Organizations Ltd (HIFAS) general manager, Erdem Ozel, said "there is a changing world out there and we're right in the middle of it. The instruments of the 'new world' are taking shape rapidly and we are ready to do our share."
Adding that HIFAS's vision was "to turn Istanbul into the informatics capital of Eurasia," Ozel said that they wanted to expand the informatics market all over the world. Their goal was to become part of the global economy by creating international employment opportunities through regional cooperation.
"Eurasia has great potential in the world of the future with its developing economy and dynamic human resources. The market volume by2005 will be over $250 billion. Eurasia will be a center for technology, and the 'Informatics 2000' fair will be the main motor of this development. The sector will produce over $16 billion this year, but the figure will reach $50 billion in five years," he said.
Participating companies hail from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Italy, Taiwan, Singapore, the US, United Arab Emirates, Greece and Slovenia.
Extending over an area of 47 thousand square meters with 328 stands in nine different halls, the fair is expected to draw some 150 thousand visitors through September 10. A series of conferences and panels will be held at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Palace. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
