Warsaw, 26 October 2012

Poland’s participation as Partner Country at CeBIT 2013 is beginning to take shape. A comprehensive agreement on close cooperation was signed today in Warsaw by the German high-tech association BITKOM and its Polish counterparts Iztech, KiGEIT and PIIT. Deutsche Messe AG has also reached an agreement along these lines with the Polish Ministry for Economic Affairs. “This kind of international cooperation offers a strategic advantage for all concerned and assumes greater significance in times like these in view of the difficult economic and business conditions”, said BITKOM President Prof. Dieter Kempf. “With a turnover of 152 billion euros, the German ICT market is the biggest in Europe – and next year it will again produce growth rates higher than the growth of the entire economy. Poland boasts one of the most dynamic economies in Europe and is justifiably seen as a source of hope.” BITKOM is optimistic that German companies will greatly benefit from the international get-together at CeBIT. Especially small and medium-sized companies will find that it is an opportunity to make valuable international contacts without involving a big commitment in terms of effort or cost.

Frank Pörschmann, member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe AG and responsible for CeBIT, explained: “Poland has one of the most promising growth economies in Europe, if not the world. In the high-tech sectors, in particular, the country has huge economic potential, not least in the field of ICT services and in the global division of labour. Poland is therefore an ideal partner for CeBIT – attractive, dynamic and vibrant. For the participating companies at CeBIT, Poland serves as a gateway to Eastern Europe – and for Polish exhibitors, CeBIT is the gateway to the world.”

At the Opening Ceremony of CeBIT on Monday, 4 March, German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will be joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as well as his deputy Waldemar Pawlak.

The Partner Country Poland will be staging an impressive display occupying more than 3,000 square metres at the event. A central stand located in Hall 6 will be the hub of the presentation. “We are delighted that our Partner Country next year will be represented at four CeBIT platforms, i.e. CeBIT pro, gov, lab and life, with high-calibre professional displays. Currently we expect to see more than 200 Polish exhibitors at CeBIT 2013”, said Pörschmann. This year, some 74 Polish companies took part in CeBIT, which proved an effective platform for initiating international business.

In addition, CeBIT 2013 boasts numerous panel discussions and forums where experts and important representatives from across the industry in Poland and Germany can exchange ideas and know-how. For example, top government representatives from both countries are expect to attend the German-Polish ICT Summit on 5 March 2013, the opening day of CeBIT. BITKOM President Kempf believes: “The year of Polish-German partnership will also be a suitable occasion for the governments of our two countries to talk about high-tech strategies and economic policies.”

The Polish market for IT and telecommunications has maintained a steady rate of growth for several years. BITKOM’s own marketing research institute EITO has estimated growth of approx. 2.6 percent for 2012, which amounts to a total turnover of about 16 billion euros. At present the main areas of growth are tablet computers and IT outsourcing, as well as landline and mobile data services. Next year, growth will be around 2.2 percent. According to BITKOM statistics, Poland was the sixth most important trading partner for Germany in the first half-year of 2012 in terms of ICT hardware and consumer electronics. Thus, goods worth 821 million euros were exported from Germany to Poland, while Germany imported products worth 449 million euros from Poland during the same period.

BITKOM represents more than 1,700 companies in Germany, including over 1,200 direct members with total sales of around 135 billion euros and a workforce of 700,000. Its membership embraces virtually all the global players, as well as 800 SMEs and numerous founder-controlled companies. These include software companies, IT service providers, telecommunications and Internet companies, hardware and consumer electronics manufacturers, as well as digital media enterprises.

CeBIT is the world’s largest and most important event in the ICT industry. Staged annually every spring by Deutsche Messe in Hannover, Germany, CeBIT was established as a stand-alone event in 1986. Boasting a unique mix of expo, conferences, keynotes, corporate events and business lounges, CeBIT is second to none in lead generation and stimulation of business growth. CeBIT 2013 takes place from 5-9 March and will feature four platforms – or showcases – dedicated to specific areas of application: CeBIT pro highlights secure and efficient ICT solutions for today’s business enterprises. CeBIT gov showcases the latest ICT solutions for public administration and healthcare. CeBIT life presents high-tech trends, as well as technologies and applications for all areas of today’s smart and mobile digital lifestyle. CeBIT lab features trailblazing solutions and emerging ICT trends for the world of tomorrow.

For more details go to www.cebit.de.