Stan Beer
Monday, 09 March 2009 16:37
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
Not
even the personal appearance of the terminator Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger, leading a huge delegation of Californian companies,
could mask the dismal turnout to this year's global
technology extravaganza CeBIT 2009. Organiser Deutsche Messe AG tried
to put a positive face on the event, but both exhibitor and visitor numbers
were down by a crushing 20%.
To Europe,
Germany and Hannover, CeBIT is not just a technology show. It is an
annual pilgrimage of the European and global technology community that
swells the population of the Northern German city of Hannover, normally
about 500,000, to double its size. Locals would rent rooms or their
entire apartments to visitors and move out for the six days of the show.
When CeBIT was at its height in 1995, it attracted more than 750,000
visitors and 6100 exhibitors. At the show held this time last year
visitor numbers were down below 500,000. This year visitor numbers saw
a huge drop to 400,000, with 4300 exhibitors, meaning CeBIT is now
about half the size in terms of drawing power than it was in the boom
years of the mid-1990s.
However, despite the unprecedented depth of the global recession and
the general atmosphere of doom and gloom, Deutsche Messe did its best
to put on a brave face.
Deutsche Messe AG Board Member Ernst Raue said the industry had drawn “fresh optimism” from the strength of the CeBIT event.
Mr Raue conceded the depth of the global economic crisis had not left
the CeBIT event untouched. But given the severity of the economic
conditions, Mr Raue said the organisers were “extremely pleased” with
the result.
“A
huge number of exhibitors and visitors are now leaving Hannover with a
renewed sense of buoyancy as well as bulging order books and a solid
foundation for new business,” Mr Raue said.
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