CommunicAsia goes to Vietnam

SINGAPORE--The organizer of CommunicAsia is now hoping to take a bite out of Vietnam's booming telecoms pie.

Singapore Exhibition Service (SES), which recently wrapped up the CommunicAsia infocomm technology (ICT) trade show in Singapore in June, said it will launch CommunicVietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, to be held from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5 next year.

Victor Wong, project director of CommunicVietnam, said in a statement Tuesday: "The Vietnam ICT market has a need for a business-to-business platform that offers opportunities for networking and business deals. CommunicVietnam is geared to answer this demand by bringing key players, as well as small and medium ICT businesses from around the globe to Vietnam's doorstep."

According to SES, Vietnam's telecoms market was worth US$2 billion last year. Its teledensity--at just 18.41 per 100 people--means that Vietnam's telecoms industry is expected to balloon.

In fact, between 2001 and 2004, the country's telecoms sector grew 47.8 percent each year. By 2008, the number of cellphone users in Vietnam is expected to increase to 21 million. The International Telecommunication Union has also named Vietnam as the world's second fastest-growing telecom market, after China.

CommunicAsia 2006 drew close to 65,000 visitors, and showcased ICT products and services from nearly 2,340 exhibitors from more than 100 countries.