CE China will be a global IFA event, developed by the Messe Berlin team responsible for the huge success of IFA. The first CE China is scheduled for April 2016.

Work on CE China 2016 started on Monday in Berlin, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Limin Guo, Director General of Shenzen’s Economy Trade and Information Commission, and Dr Christian Göke, Chief Executive of Messe Berlin, on the sidelines of this year’s IFA trade show.

The plans for developing CE China have the full support of Shenzhen’s city administration. Top Chinese retailers like Alibaba and Gome are also backing the concept, while other leading retailer groups have signaled their support. IDG, China’s most important publisher for media focusing on consumer electronics, will be a long-term strategic Partner of CE China.

Limin Guo, the Director General of the Shenzhen Economy, Trade and Information Commission, said that “Both Berlin and Shenzhen are set to benefit enormously from closer trade cooperation and economic ties. Bringing a global IFA event to Shenzhen is a major step to achieve this goal, and Shenzhen's Municipal Government fully supports and encourages this move.”

Dr Christian Göke, the Chief Executive of Messe Berlin GmbH, said: “What makes IFA so successful is our focus on brands, products and consumers. We wanted to make this move to China at the right time - when we know that we can replicate both the quality and the success of IFA in Shenzhen. We observed the market very closely, and we are certain: the right time is now.”

Cornelia Yzer, Senator for Economics, Technology and Research of Berlin: "Two successful models come together here: the IFA as the world's largest trade show for consumer electronics and the modern Chinese city of Shenzhen. I am convinced that the Chinese market offers plenty of potential for the expertise of Berlin and thus the important economic cooperation between Berlin and China can be further expanded."

“The idea for Consumer Electronics China really came from our many Chinese partners here at IFA, who asked us time and again whether we could organize a similar show focused on China,” said Jens Heithecker, Executive Director of IFA at Messe Berlin. “We will build on our many years of close co-operation with China’s consumer electronics and household appliances industry, as well as our partnership with key retailers like Alibaba and Gome to make CEC a success.”