Berlin - Strong demand for flat-screen televisions is keeping consumer-electronic sales in Germany robust, industry spokesmen said Thursday, just weeks before the IFA trade show opens in Berlin. IFA is Europe's biggest annual consumer-electronics event, and a main venue for the world's flat-screen makers to demonstrate LED, plasma and other technologies in ever-bigger display sizes.
Rainer Hecker, president of the German consumer-electronics association GFU, said German sales were set to rise 2 per cent in 2008 to 23.7 billion euros (37.2 billion dollars), even if growth flattens after a strong first and second quarter.
The European football tournament this summer drove German sales. Hecker said only 25 per cent of boxy traditional television sets had been replaced with flat screens in Germany so far, so demand was bound to continue.
GFU is the host of IFA, to be held this year August 29 to September 3. Unlike trade-only fairs, the Berlin event attracts the general public and stokes interest in entertainment gadgets. This year it is also to exhibit home appliances.
