PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CARTES in Asia 2011, Asia Pacific’s leading digital security and smart card technologies exhibition and conference gets underway in just two weeks. The second edition of CARTES in Asia will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong, from 29 to 31 March 2011.

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.

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

Notes to editors

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

CARTES in Asia will bring together 120 international exhibitors from the smart card and digital security industry, confirming its place among the major events dedicated to smart technologies worldwide. 4,000 visitors from banks, telecoms, administration, IT security and retail sectors, are expected to discover innovative technologies for card manufacturing, authentication solutions, payment solutions, mobile security and other innovative technical solutions. Conferences will focus on Identification, Cards & Payment, Convergence and Mobile Banking.

Contacts