The Consumer Electronics Association today announced the first keynote speakers for its CES 2008 tradeshow. Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates will open the show with his traditional pre-show keynote, followed by Toshihiro Sakamoto, president of Panasonic and Intel chief executive officer Paul Otellini.

The 2008 speech is believed to be Gates’ last CES address before the executive’s scheduled retirement sometime in 2008. Gates has delivered nine CES keynote speeches so far (1998; 2000-2007).