Hanover, Germany - Spain has been awarded partner status at next year's CeBIT, the annual computer show in Germany, organizers said in Hanover on Monday.

Partner nations at German trade fairs usually send their leaders to the fair opening, gain access to German business leaders at a trade conference and win special attention in the news media.

The organizers of CeBIT, which will be held March 2-6, noted that Spain was one of Europe's top five markets for digital technology and Spain's own technology industry was developing fast.

The partnership would also highlight Spain's presidency of the European Union in the first half of next year, they said.

Despite a sharp slump in both exhibitor and visitor numbers in recent years, CeBIT remains a key European fair exhibiting software, computers and office equipment. This year's CeBIT partner was the US state of California. (dpa)