There is a proud new name in the world of information and communication technology and electronics (ICTE). But it has emerged from combining two of the proudest old names in these hi-tech arenas.
Exhibitions for Africa today announces the birth of FuturEX, which is expected to become Africa`s premier event on the ICTE calendar.
For the past 25 years, Computer Faire has been South Africa`s leading information technology exhibition - always growing, evolving and changing in line with the rapid and ongoing developments in the IT industry. Similarly, taking place every 18 months, Tel.com Africa has become Africa`s premier international telecommunications exhibition and conference.
With the rapid convergence of IT, telecommunications and electronics in recent years, however, the need for a single, integrated ICTE event has become more and more pressing. Independent research conducted by World Wide Worx across 100 local ICT companies, government and industry bodies have confirmed this need: results clearly indicated a growing demand for the integration of both shows into one large, annual and definitive ICTE exhibition and conference.
Driven by its customers` requirements, Exhibitions for Africa therefore takes great pride in answering their needs by announcing the launch of just such an event for May 2004. FuturEX will replace the two independent Computer Faire and Tel.com Africa exhibitions, and this one event will now bring together and showcase the entire spectrum of information technology, telecommunications, software, services and electronics, all under one roof.
It will be a business-to-business event targeted exclusively at key business buyers and decision-makers. The exhibition`s sole aim will be to connect them with the technologies, equipment, systems, services and solutions they need for their organisations to succeed in the e-business age. Hence, the FuturEX by-line is "where business and ICTE connect".
"We have always listened to the market," says Exhibitions for Africa managing director Jo Melville. "When the industry asked us in the late 1990s to move to a business focus, and our research confirmed this need, we acted accordingly.
"Today we can state that we have heard the voice of the industry once more, and have again moved with the times to give IT, telecommunications and electronics companies the kind of exhibition they want. That exhibition is FuturEX."
Aldean Prior, director of Exhibitions for Africa and manager of Computer Faire and Tel.Com in recent years, believes that the new event is a tribute to the two brands that have served the industry for many years.
"Computer Faire celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, proving that it has been a true survivor in an environment known for short-lived ventures," she says. "But the time has come for it to evolve and, along with Tel.com, it will provide the foundation for a new event that will continue to represent the industry even as its own needs evolve far beyond what we could ever have imagined 25 years ago."
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