(October 3, 2008) California has officially been selected as the partner state for the world’s leading trade fair for digital business solutions and information and communications technology, CeBIT, in 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced during a news conference yesterday.

CeBIT describes itself as the number one marketplace for digital solutions and most influential international information and communications technology event.

California’s selection marks the first time that a state, not a country, will serve as a partner at CeBIT.

In previous years, CeBIT has partnered with other nations including the United States, France, Russia, India and Canada. As the Partner State, California businesses will be highlighted above all others, providing a great opportunity for business matchmaking and networking for California businesses.

California’s participation at CeBIT 2009 will spotlight the state’s innovative information and communications technologies in several key industries, including: entertainment, Internet-based services, TeleHealth, security, consumer electronics, digital content generation and distribution, aerospace, and research and technology. In addition, California will feature its green information technology initiatives.

California’s high-tech industry added 21,400 net jobs — a 2 percent increase — for a tech industry total of 940,700 in 2006, (the most current state data available), according to a recent American Electronics Association (AeA) study. The report also indicated that California continues to lead the nation by most high-tech industry metrics and that venture capital investments increased 8 percent to $13.8 billion in 2007, accounting for 47 percent of all venture capital in the country.

CeBIT 2008 featured 67 exhibiting companies from California, as well as other California companies that registered through their international subsidiaries. The event attracted 495,000 attendees, 5,800 visitors and more than 7,000 press and media from more than 77 countries.

CeBIT 2009 will be organized jointly by Deutsche Messe AG and its U.S. subsidiary, Hannover Fairs USA, Inc., the U.S. Department of Commerce; the Office of the Governor of California, the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and the German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM). 

The California Chamber of Commerce, which is listed as a supporting organization for the CeBIT – California collaboration, supports the expansion of international trade and investment, fair and equitable market access for California products abroad, and elimination of disincentives that impede the international competitiveness of California business.

For more information about CeBIT, visit www.hfusa.com/cebit_california