Big Innovations From A Small Island; First-ever Singapore Representation at CES to Showcase Island-state's Innovative Technologies.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

2004 International CES

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2004

The world's smallest portable storage drive, audio cards that are installed in about 70% of the world's PC audio systems, and a smart automatic video production software that allows you to create high quality productions from raw video many times faster than conventional methods -- these exciting innovations and more spring forth every year from Singapore's electronics companies.

With an annual manufacturing output of some US$40 billion, Singapore has long established herself as a global centre for electronics and precision engineering. Today, with the country's emphasis and focus on product research and development and intellectual property protection, technology consumers can look forward to even more surprises in the coming years.

This year, to showcase some of these creative ideas, a Singapore team led by International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore), formerly known as the Singapore Trade Development Board, will be participating for the first time in this flagship tradeshow for consumer technology. (Please visit http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/CES_brochure.pdf for the list, profile and location of participating companies.) Said IE Singapore's Senior Manager from the Electronics and Precision Engineering Division, Mr. Oliver Kwek, "Today, our Singapore companies continue to deliver high-quality products and useful innovations to the end consumer through a fast expanding global distribution network. CES serves as an important platform for us to further showcase Singapore's latest consumer electronics products and services to the world. It is our hope that this exhibition will bring about an even greater awareness on Singapore's product R&D, innovation and manufacturing capabilities and deliver opportunities for further global alliances to be formed." Singapore's position as a great hub for innovation is further substantiated by World Economic Forum's 2002-2003 Global Competitiveness Report which ranked Singapore No. 1 for intellectual property protection and No. 2 for firm level innovation in Asia.

One company that is profiling an innovative product at this year's CES is PSB Corp with its VCONNECT wireless audio module which allows multiple wireless audio devices to function concurrently without interference through the use of Adaptive Hopping Spread Spectrum (AHSS) technology.

Fabless semi-conductor design house Winedge & Wireless is a pioneer in the industry with its Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum processor, UltraSST, which effectively increases the range of cordless phones from the usual 300m or so, to 1km, will also be looking to break into new ground at CES. Said Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Pang Tuck Wing, "Since we were established some 9 years ago, we have continued to invest in R&D heavily to produce RF and baseband chips for a variety of customer requirements. With our participation in CES, we hope to mark the coming of age of Winedge and our aspiration to be a truly world-class company."

Winedge's Winceiver (single-chip FM/FSK transceiver) chips have been used in Radio Shack wireless headsets for cellular phones and in wireless game controllers for Playstation2. Its Ultra51 high speed embedded processor has been used in PDAs, pagers, and SMS phones. The company is also one of the few in Asia with investments from marquee venture capitalist Draper Fisher Jurvetson.

Just last year, Creative Labs -- creator of the world-famous Sound Blaster audio cards -- won TechTV's "Best of CES" Award and the Design and Engineering Award at CES, while Trek2000 -- developer of the trademark ThumbDrive storage device -- clinched the 2003 CES Design & Engineering Showcase Honors as independent exhibitors.

Global buyers can also look forward to more innovative Singapore products at next year's Global Buyers Network event under Global-Asia Trade Exchange (GATE04) held in Singapore from 19 to 23 July 2004. This world's first-ever buyer-centric event which is a platform to source for end-to-end solutions in Asia, will bring together market leaders from the international trading arena.

For more information please visit www.gate2004.com.

The Singapore Trade Development Board (TDB) is now known as the International Enterprise Singapore. Please refer to us as the International Enterprise Singapore, or IE Singapore, and not IES. If an acronym is needed, please use "IE". IE Singapore's mission is to help Singapore-based companies grow and internationalise. It offers a wide range of services in Singapore and overseas to help companies shorten their learning curve and make the right connections. In doing so, it provides market information, and assists enterprises in building up their business capabilities and finding overseas partners. At the same time, IE Singapore works to position Singapore as a base for foreign businesses to expand into the region in partnership with local companies.

For media enquiries or interviews, please visit us at the Singapore Pavilion at Booths 52086 & 51087 (The Las Vegas Hilton).