The payments market in Asia Pacific is booming states Egidio ZARRELLA, Partner at KPMG China: “According to forecasts, the combined global market for mobile payments is expected to exceed US$1 trillion by 2014, with over one billion users in that year. For Asia-Pacific, we also expect the volume of credit card transactions to exceed the US within the next two years.

“Merchants are increasingly beginning to question the capacity of Asia’s current payments architecture to cope with this volume and meet their business requirements. However, we see that new entrants to the payments ecosystem are giving Asia the potential to leapfrog legacy systems.”

Over 120 exhibitors from 23 countries will showcase their latest innovative technologies for card manufacturing, authentication solutions, payment solutions, mobile security and other innovative technical solutions. Key exhibitors include Advanced Card Systems, American Express, Atlantic Zeiser Gmbh, Collis Asia, Bundesdruckerei Gmbh, China Electronics Corporation, Datacard Group, Eastcompeace, Galitt, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, HID Global, Inside Secure, ST Microelectronics, Verifone and Watchdata.

The exhibition will feature 28 exhibitors from China and 10 from Hong Kong. A China pavilion will present an exhibition entitled the “Internet of Things in China” promoting the development of Smart Cards, RFID and Internet of Things and their successful application across China in the past ten years. This exhibition is put together by CARTES’ institutional partner, China Information Industry Trade Association (CIITA). A French pavilion organized by Ubifrance will present 16 innovative companies dedicated to the card industry providing solutions for Asian companies.

CARTES in Asia 2011 will kick off with the Asian Card Summit, a round table discussion in which executives from American Express, EastCompeace, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, VeriFone and Watchdata will provide their perspective, vision and market forecasts on the card and payment market in Asia. Jafizwaty ISHAHAK, Associate Director, APAC – ICT at Frost & Sullivan will moderate the session

Following the roundtable, CARTES in Asia will feature its prestigious Asian SESAMES Award ceremony. The SESAMES reward Asia Pacific’s most innovative application in the field of smart cards, digital security, identification, secure transactions and contactless. This year’s five finalists selected by the Jury members are:

• China Telecom with China Telecom Bestpay Mobile Payment Solution
• Gemalto with eGo™
• Gemalto with Smart Badge Holder
• STMicroelectronics with UTAMCIC
• Teslin Substrates by PPG with Teslin® Biodegradable Substrate

Finally, the evening will conclude with a festive networking cocktail, supported by Giesecke & Devrient and by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, partner of CARTES in Asia.

Download the press release

To discover the latest smart technologies and solutions, visitors can register for the free admission now at: www.cartes-asia.com.

About CARTES in Asia

Date: 29-31 March 2011
 Opening times:
 - 29 March – 2.30pm to 5.30pm
 - 30 & 31 March – 9.30am to 5.30pm
 Place: Hong Kong – AsiaWorld-Expo
 Organiser:  Comexposium
 Website:  www.cartes-asia.com

For trade visitors only

CARTES in Asia is a regional Exhibition for the APAC market and a high-level Congress covering digital security and smart technologies.

For its first edition in March 2010, CARTES in Asia brought together 116 exhibitors from the smart card and digital security industry and took its place among the major events dedicated to smart technologies worldwide. 2813 visitors from banks, telecoms, administration, IT security and retail sectors, had the opportunity to discover innovative technologies for card manufacturing, authentication solutions, payment solutions, mobile security and other innovative technical solutions.

25 years experience at high level, international card business events

The CARTES team organises the sector’s leading international event CARTES & IDentification in Paris which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2010. CARTES has promoted smart technologies and presented the main market trends and innovations through the most appropriate forms including conferences programme, SESAMES Awards, animation areas, specific exhibition and demonstration areas.

CARTES events are organized by COMEXPOSIUM, the leading French profesional trade fairs organizer, offering a high level of service and premium quality standards for exhibitors and visitors.

Strong partnerships with main regional media and associations

CARTES in Asia will benefit from the strong support of major regional associations, authorities and local development agencies to gather all the components of the smart technology value chain in the Asia Pacific region.

Contact

For more information, obtain photographs or to arrange interviews please contact Mandy Queen at CRED Communications Ltd (English media) on +852 96847365 or email mandy@credcommunications.com and contactFor more information, obtain photographs or to arrange interviews please contact

-Mandy Queen at CRED Communications LtdPhone:+852 96847365
 Email: mandy@credcommunications.com

-Otis Kung (Chinese media)
 Phone:+852 96843926
 Email: otis@credcommunications.com