Global Sources' CEO Summit to help shape future consumer electronics sector

HONG KONG, September 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Sources' (NASDAQ: GSOL) Fall 2012 CEO Summit will take place at the fall China Sourcing Fair: Electronics & Components in Hong Kong on October 12. Executives from some of the world's largest and most innovative electronics manufacturers and retailers will gather to share industry insights with a focus on the development of mobile devices. The Summit will provide a platform for industry professionals to network and share forecasts about the fast-growing consumer electronics market.

"Maintaining profitability in a highly competitive market is increasingly difficult. However, there is a huge opportunity ahead for those who can innovate with the total sales of consumer electronics expected to reach US$1 trillion in 2012," said Global Sources' CEO, Spenser Au. "Industry experts estimated that the market for tablets is expected to grow 59 percent and 22 percent for smartphones this year. These are two hot sectors where global buyers and Greater China manufacturers can innovate to boost profits and gain market share.

"The Summit aims to provide ideas on how to profit from hot industry growth sectors as well as a high-level networking opportunity for those seeking global partners," added Au.

Mobile devices make up the most competitive and rapidly changing segment of the consumer electronics industry. Industry estimates show that by 2016, there are expected to be 3 billion Internet users globally -- and many of them are expected to be connecting wirelessly through mobile devices. In order to make the most of this booming market, buyers need to keep informed about emerging trends to make intelligent sourcing decisions.

The Summit will be focusing on the development of mobile devices. Leading authorities scheduled to speak include:

• Allen Wu, President, ARM China, will present the keynote speech and discuss "How new technologies are changing the sourcing opportunities for mobile electronics in Greater China"
• Jia Wu, Director of Connected Home Devices, Strategy Analytics, will present "Is Phablet the next opportunity?"
• Alfred Zhou, General Manager, GfK Retail and Technology China Co., will present "2012 Global Retail Market Overview of Connected Mobile Devices"

The Summit will also include a panel discussion led by industry experts sharing their perspectives on sourcing mobile devices from Greater China. Panelists will include:

• Allen Wu, President, ARM China
• Jia Wu, Director of Connected Home Devices, Strategy Analytics
• Francis Fong, President, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation
• George Stepancich, member of the Executive Board, Consumer Electronics Association (U.S.)

The Fall 2012 Global Sources CEO Summit is co-organized with the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation and Consumer Electronic Alliances. For more information and to pre-register for the Summit, please visit http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/ceosummit.

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 facilitates trade between Asia and the world using English-language media such as online marketplaces (http://www.globalsources.com), print and digital magazines, sourcing research reports, private sourcing events, trade shows, and online sourcing fairs.

Over 1.18 million international buyers, including 90 of the world's top 100 retailers, use these services to obtain product and company information to help them source more profitably from overseas supply markets. These services also provide suppliers with integrated marketing solutions to build corporate image, generate sales leads and win orders from buyers in more than 240 countries and territories.

Global Sources' other businesses provides Chinese-language media to companies selling to and within Greater China. These services include online web sites, print and digital magazines, seminars and trade shows. In mainland China, Global Sources has a network of more than 30 office locations and a community of over 4 million registered online users and magazine readers of its Chinese-language media.

Now in its fifth decade, Global Sources has been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2000.