SINGAPORE: There has been a 16 per cent drop in both the number of participating companies and exhibition floor space booked at this year's CommunicAsia2009 in a sign of the difficult economic times.

Altogether, 1,928 companies from 59 countries are expected to showcase exhibitions, spanning over a gross area of 58,000 square metres.

Event organiser Singapore Exhibition Services said Friday some 8,400 visitors have pre-registered so far, armed with a cumulative spending budget of some US$1.8 billion.

70 per cent of the exhibitions are expected to showcase new applications.

Electronics company Samsung is also expected do a world wide launch of a new range of mobile handsets.

Singapore's InfoComm Development Authority will also be holding two new forums in conjunction with CommunicAsia2009.

- CNA/yb