The electronics industry faces a bright future, according to Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association and secretary of the World Electronics Forum. Shapiro spoke at the World Electronics Forum (WEF) that gathered in Tel-Aviv, Israel. The forum hosted 40 delegates from 16 countries. They discussed issues like green electronics, recycling, free trade, standards, telecommunications, and energy consumption.

"The main trends in the industry include big developments in the areas digitalization, convergence, broadband, biometrics and nanotechnology," Shapiro said in a press conference last week. "We are only in the infancy of the digital age."

According to Shapiro, The electronics industry fuels a big change and transformation in fields such as cable and satellite TV and content. "This industry makes the world a smaller place, and its jobs change lives, through teleworking and other practices. The consumption of electronics in the US is around $150 billion. The average American home has 25 electronic devices."

Shapiro estimated that every country will eventually move to digital TV. "This move is very important, as analog TV uses a lot of spectrum compared to digital TV, and the move will free up a lot of spectrum, in a way that will contribute to future developments."

Shapiro admitted that China is the world s manufacturer, but warned that "we should not put all the eggs in one basket."

Regarding the WEF, Shapiro said: "There are common problems like green electronics, the move to digital TV and the penetration of new technologies to developing countries. In these issues, the WEF helps educate governments, and help them not to make mistakes in their decisions. Specifically, we help governments understand the value of free trade. The event in Tel Aviv is WEF s biggest and most successful event."

Shapiro s organization, the CEA, also organizes the CES trade show, which attracts about 140,000 guests who come to Las Vegas each January.

The press conference in Tel Aviv hosted other heads of electronics associations. One of the speakers was Professor Kei Biu Chan, president of Hong Kong s electronics association, who is also an expert in green electronics.

Between 2000 and 2006, China more than doubled its part in the global manufacturing of electronics, from 11.5 percent to 24 percent in 2006. From 2005 onwards, more than half of the global electronics manufacturing of $1.513 trillion is conducted in Asia. In China, electronics comprises 33 percent of the exports.

"China is the rising power," Professor Kei Bio Chan president of Hong Kong s electronics association, told the journalists. It is already the world s number one market, and not only the world s number one manufacturer. The electronics industry in China grows at an annual pace of 11 percent, about twice than the rest of the world. China has already about 250,000 internet cafes. India leads software, while China leads manufacturing.

Regarding green electronics, Chan said: "Five years ago, some countries initiated laws to protect the environment by cutting poisons in the electronics industry. Manufacturers had to supply products which have a minimum amount of poisons and pollutants, and recycle them. Now, the next stage is manufacturing goods which will be fully recycled. China is very active in regulation and other measures in order to achieve greener environment and greener industry."

Vinnie Mehta, executive director of India s Manufacturers Association for Information Technology, also spoke in the press conference. The size of India s electronics industry is $30 billion, while $14 billion are for export. According to Frost & Sullivan, in 2015 the consumption of electronic products in India will reach $320 billion.

"Every month, 7 million to 8 million cellphones are sold in India," Mehta informed the Forum. "Our target is to reach 500 million cellphones in India in 2010, a penetration rate of 50 percent." Mehta said he expected India would attract about $20 billion in investments in hardware and software in the next two years. "We already have massive presence of many companies such as Nokia, Motorola, LG, Philips and Samsung. 7 out of the 10 top players in EMS have a base in India."

Another speaker at the event was Gabriel Coron, head of France s FIEEC association. Coron reminded the audience that while the global volume of the consumption of electronics systems is $1.5 trillion, Europe holds 25 percent of the consumption and 20 percent of the manufacturing of electronic systems. Between 2006 and 2011 European electronics industry will grow at a rate of 4.8 percent, compared to 6.2 percent worldwide, according to Coron.

"Some of the drivers for this growth include rise in demand for more secure, more convenient and healthier electronics systems," Coron said. "This in turn drives a huge need for high value activities, research and development. Another reason for the growth expected in Europe is the fact Europe has its own low cost countries in Eastern Europe. Asian firms also invested in manufacturing facilities for consumer electronics in Eastern Europe. The manufacturing of electronics equipment in Eastern Europe costs only 19 percent of the cost in the rest of the world, and these causes Eastern Europe to be attractive in this regard. In summary, although Asia represents half of global electronics market, Europe and North America are still important manufacturing areas."