International IC-China Conference and Exhibition and co-located Components Zone scheduled to take place in major electronics design and manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen, Chengdu and Shanghai in March with strong support from key industry associations

HONG KONG, Feb. 25 — (PRNewswire) — Global Sources (Nasdaq: GSOL) announces top international and local technology and components companies are set to participate in the 15th International IC-China Conference & Exhibition (IIC-China, http://www.english.iic-china.com ) and the co-located Components Zone ( http://www.cz.IIC-China.com ) Spring Edition, which are scheduled to feature over 800 booths across three locations:

    Shenzhen: March 4-5, Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center
    Chengdu: March 11-12, Pride International Convention Center
    Shanghai: March 15-16, Shanghai Mart

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b )

"China is leading the world's economic recovery, with its electronics industry expected to grow to US$1 trillion this year. To fuel this growth, demand for semiconductors is forecasted to increase to US$80 billion, while that for electronic components is expected to reach US$100 billion in 2010," said Mark A. Saunderson, President of Global Sources' Electronics Business Unit. "IIC-China and Components Zone provide technology and component vendors with a unique, face-to-face opportunity to interact with China's design innovators and purchasing managers, who drive demand in these fast-growing markets."

Conferences and seminars highlight new and innovative technologies

This year, IIC-China is set to launch a series of conferences on the hottest next-generation technologies in China's electronics industry, namely automotive electronics, medical electronics and green power technologies.

"New technologies in automotive, medical and green power are much in demand in China, now and in the future. China is already the world's largest vehicle market and its factories are forecasted to produce more than 15 million units this year. The emergence of electric cars, which use 13-40% more IC and components, should further boost semiconductor demand," Saunderson added. "China's medical device industry is growing at an average of 15% annually. As for green power, China already has a 30% share of the global market for photovoltaic panels used to generate electricity, and government and corporations alike are embracing the 'Going Green' trend."

Speakers at these forward-looking conferences include the following experts:

    * Green Power: Zheng Haowen, Director of National Hi-tech Enterprise
      Development LED Professional Committee
    * Medical Electronics: Professor Wang Zhihua of Tsinghua University, Vice
      Director of the Beijing Semiconductor Association and Vice General
      Secretary of the Design Branch of the CSIA
    * Automotive Electronics: Isaac Wang, Senior Analyst, China Research for
      iSuppli Corporation

The conferences are also scheduled to feature technology professionals from Altium, Fairchild Semiconductor, Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics.

Design engineers and technical managers can also benefit from over 60 vendor seminars across the three cities, which are scheduled to showcase the latest IC and software technologies on digital consumer electronics, telecom infrastructure, wireless communications, embedded design, green power, medical solutions, power management, programmable logic, automotive electronics, microcontroller and processors, digital/analogue signal processing, and memory and sensor technologies.

For the first time, Components Zone is scheduled to host forums on market demand and supply trends for buyers and purchasing managers, focusing on capacitors, PCBs, connectors and power components, with the aim of helping to enhance the domestic supply chain of these hot components.

Event highlights key China government broadcasting initiative

The IIC-China 2010 Spring Edition places the spotlight on Next Generation Broadcasting (NGB), the China Government's initiative to integrate all local cable TV networks into one nationwide network.

An initial network covering major cities is expected to be completed within three years, while construction of a broader national network is slated for completion in 10 years. NGB aims to promote its concepts and the development of the NGB Alliance at IIC-China and to attract companies to help build a more complete network ecosystem. NGB is expected to represent a large market for semiconductors and components over the next few years.

Other key industry organizations supporting the IIC-China 2010 Spring Edition include Shanghai Integrated Circuit Industry Association (SICA), Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area and Korea Semiconductor Industry Association.

IIC-China is also scheduled to host its first ever CEO Forum in Shenzhen. Liao Chingfeng, Chief Representative, China region of Mediatek - the world's third largest fabless semiconductor company and the leader in China's mobile- phone semiconductor market - along with other local fabless companies, plan to share their views on the topic "Does innovation contradict cost-cuts?"

Top technology and component vendors to showcase their latest products

China semiconductor companies such as Beken Corp., Brite Semiconductor, China Integrated Circuit Design Corp., Shenzhen Biyadi Microelectronics and SI-EN Technology are scheduled to showcase their latest solutions at China's largest systems design event. Leading international technology vendors including Fairchild Semiconductor, Fujitsu Microelectronics, International Rectifier, Intel, Intersil, Micrel, Microsoft, Numonyx, NXP Semiconductors, SG Micro, Spansion and STMicroelectronics are also planning to seize the opportunity to promote and showcase their latest technologies and products to China's engineering community at IIC-China.

Leading passive component suppliers at Components Zone include AAC Acoustic Technologies, CviLux Corp., Eyang Technology Development, Mueller Electric, Shenzhen Sun & Lynn Circuit and Xiamen Letdo Electronics.

Industry professionals can register for IIC-China and Components Zone events in Shenzhen, Chengdu and Shanghai at http://www.english.IIC-China.com .

Global Sources' design-to-export solution for Greater China and Asia's electronics industry

IIC-China is an important part of Global Sources' portfolio of electronics industry media and trade show brands. Combining 29 online and 10 print media, plus five events which run 16 times across 9 cities, Global Sources provides Greater China and Asia's electronics industry with end-to-end support - from product conceptualization through to export of finished products.

Global Sources' key electronics industry event brands also include China Sourcing Fairs: Electronics, Security Products and Electronics & Components ( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com ).

For more information about Global Sources, visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com .

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 888,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.5 million products and more than 253,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 80 sourcing research reports and 17 specialized trade shows which run 55 times a year across 10 cities.

Suppliers receive more than 136 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 39 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,500 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media.