Around 200 businesses from 18 countries and territories will attend the Vietnam International Communications Expo 2009 (Vietnam Comm 2009) and the International Exhibition on Electronics Products in Vietnam 2009 (Vietnam Electronics 2009) slated for Nov. 18-21 in Hanoi.

Vietnamese telecom giants VinaPhone, MobiFone and VDC will join world famous brands--Cisco, Siemens, NTT Docomo, Motorola and Nokia Siemens Network--at the twin expos, which are the largest and most significant information and communications technology (ICT) and electronics events in Vietnam.

Speaking at a press briefing in Hanoi on Nov. 16, Director of the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT)’s Public Relations and Information Centre Bui Quoc Viet said that the participation of a large number of international telecom businesses proves that “Vietnam is considered one of the most attractive ICT and electronics markets in the world”, despite the prolonged economic slowdown.

Organe France Telecom Vietnam Director Jacques Fulrant highlighted the rapid development of Vietnam’s telecom industry and confirmed his company will share experiences in 3G technology services with its Vietnamese counterparts.

“Organe France Telecom Vietnam is interested in cooperation with Vietnam’s service providers with the aim of bringing the best products and benefits to Vietnamese consumers,” said Jacques Fulrant.

A number of symposiums on opportunities and challenges to the telecom and IT industry as well as technology renewal and application in production and business will also be held during the events.

According to VNPT, Vietnam’s telecom and IT industry attained a turnover of 5.4 billion USD in 2008. At present, Vietnam has more than 99 million mobile phone subscribers and almost 22 million Internet users.

VinaPhone officially provided 3G technology service in October and MobiFone and Viettel are preparing to launch the service. Vietnam is expected to become the world’s new telecom market with a turnover of 10 billion USD in 2010, Viet said./.