The largest annual tech show where companies have the opportunity to showcase their gadgets to the worldwide market is finally here. However, someone will be left behind from taking part in this event; Russia.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 will not see any Russian companies exhibiting their products in Las Vegas, Nevada from Jan. 5 to 8 due to its invasion of Ukraine in February of last year.
Organization Policy
As reported first by AP, a representative from the Consumer Technology Association said that the ban has only affected one potential exhibitor although they did not reveal the number of Russian tech companies that took part in the event from the past few years.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and it has sparked outrage from several countries worldwide. The US, Canada, the European Union, and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia ever since then.
CTA president and CEO Gary Shapiro was among those who criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling it a "tragic and illegal assault." He revealed that there will be Ukrainian companies that will showcase their technologies for this year's show.
Shapiro said in a statement with BBC that Russia's ban from the event was not influenced by the US's legal policy, rather, it was a policy that came from the organization.
He adds that several Russian companies asked to take part in the event but the organization said they could relocate to another country if they wanted to be exhibitors.
The US has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine against Russia since February. It has provided the war-torn country with military supplies, such as drones, artillery shells, and many more.
Tech Industry Amid the Russia-Ukraine War
The raging war between the two European countries has largely affected the tech industry and the global economy in general as it increased inflationary pressures, decreased confidence and household purchasing power, stoked high energy prices, and many more, according to OECD.
Russia also serves as the world's largest supplier of gases, spurring an energy crisis across Europe and notably affecting the semiconductor industry since it relies on these gases.
The country has since restricted exports of these gases which may have been an apparent response to the multiple sanctions it received from several countries.
Moscow banned exports of "noble" gases such as neon, argon, and helium to countries that are considered unfriendly to the nation, as per a report by Russian state news outlet TASS.
The aforementioned gases are all vital in producing small electronic chips that are embedded in several devices. The consulting firm Bain & Company notes that Russia and Ukraine supplied at least 30% of the neon gas to the semiconductor industry before the war.
CES 2023 is anticipated to welcome around 10,000 attendees once it concludes on Sunday, Jan. 8. The event started on Tuesday evening but it will officially open on Thursday. It will feature small startups and some of the largest tech companies unveiling their new products.
