SINGAPORE -- Asia is experiencing an online advertising boom.

Companies in Japan, which leads the pack, are expected to spend some US$6 billion in online advertising in 2009.

China, another major growth market for online ads, is expected to gross about US$2.6 billion in online ads by 2010.

In Singapore, online ad revenues are also expected to triple from US$91 million in 2004, to US$256 million in 2009.

These figures were released to the press and analysts on Thursday, the first day of ad:tech Singapore, a conference about interactive and digital advertising and marketing.

Online ad spend is expected to increase in tandem with the growth of traditional media forms like television and newspapers, said media group WPP Digital's chief executive Mark Read in his keynote address.

The conference, previously held in nine other cities, was brought to Singapore this year because “a lot of regional ad buying comes from Singapore,” said Paul Beckley, spokesman for organizer dmg world media.

A number of fast-moving consumer goods companies' headquarters for the Asia Pacific are also situated here, he said.

The line-up of speakers includes executives from household names such as Internet companies Google and Yahoo!, food brand Nestle, and media companies WPP and MTV.

The conference ends Friday. The Straits Times-ANN