3,000 key players participated in CARTES in Asia in Hong Kong 2012

HONG KONG: Nearly 2,800 visitors attended CARTES in Asia this year to see 115 exhibitors and 72 speakers on NFC & Contactless applications, E-transactions & E-banking, Mobile payments, ID and Government Security, RFID and the Internet of Things. CARTES in Asia smart technology exhibition and conference was held on 28 and 29 March 2012 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong.

Exhibitors from 23 countries descended on Hong Kong to showcase their applications and solutions to decision makers across Asia Pacific at the third edition of CARTES in Asia. They had the opportunity to meet 2,720 visitors from 55 countries especially mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan in the secure payment and smart card industries. A delegation from mainland China led by theQingdao Economic and Information Technology Committee attended CARTES in Asia to look for solutions to set in place a Smart City project in Qingdao.

Exhibitor Christof Stutz, Deputy Head of Public Sector Division, Trüb AG, Switzerland said: "We have exhibited at every CARTES in Asia since it was launched in 2010. We manufacture and supply polycarbonate based data pages for the electronic passports of Hong Kong and Macau and since 2003 the electronic ID card for Hong Kong. Besides our government products we also showcased our EMV certified payment chip products for banking. CARTES in Asia is the perfect platform for us to grow our customer base in Asia as we can meet our existing customers and also showcase our products to potential new customers. We plan to exhibit next year as well."

The Asian Card Summit opened the two day conference at the same venue with an informative discussion around the Customer Centric Retail Payment Value Chain by six top-executives from Gemalto, Oberthur Technologies, China Union Pay, Ingenico and Watchdata

Directly after the Summit, the winner of the Asian SESAMES Award was announced. The Asian SESAMES Awards rewards the most innovative smart technology product or application developed for the Asia Pacific market. Watchdata from mainland China won the prestigious Award this year with their breakthrough NFC solution, SIMpass-SC. A spokesperson for Watchdata said: “We’re very happy to be part of an industry that provides secure, trustworthy and cost-effective solutions for our business partners and their customers. For the past five years Watchdata has been conducting research into upgrading mobile payment products and we're very happy that this new multiple application solution invention won the award. The SIMpass-SC solution is a significant improvement in mobile payment technology, and we feel privileged to push the knowledge frontiers in this market.

"CARTES in Asia gives us the chance to meet many of our existing customers in Hong Kong and Asia. We were satisfied with the inquiries from potential customers and we will attend again if we have new products to promote," added Watchdata.

Isabelle Alfano, director of CARTES events, Comexposium, said: “Last week’s CARTES in Asia saw many new companies such as China UnionPay, Ingenico and Oberthur exhibiting alongside returning exhibitors including HID Global, Trub, Watchdata and Zebra Technologies. We also welcomed pavilions from mainland China and France presenting small and medium companies willing to develop their business in the Asia Pacific region.

“The networking cocktail, sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, offered another occasion to all participants to network in a convivial atmosphere,” added Alfano.

Next year’s CARTES in Asia:
Date: 27-28 March 2013
Timing: 9.30am to 5.30pm
Place: Hong Kong – AsiaWorld-Expo
Organiser: Comexposium.