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The Hong Kong Government will bid to host the International Telecommunication Union's ITU Telecom World 2006.
The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, will arrive in Geneva on October 13 to attend ITU Telecom World 2003. While there, he will lobby for support from the ITU and the industry to host the 2006 event and deliver a keynote address at the ITU Telecom World Forum on "Opening up trade in telecoms".
ITU Telecom World is the most prestigious gathering in global telecommunications. It brings together leading telecoms experts from the public and private sectors, heads of state, ministers, regulators and CEOs of multinational corporations.
"With China opening its information and communications technology market to Hong Kong companies under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, and to the world under the World Trade Organisation, Hong Kong is the ideal venue for bringing together leading executives in the information and communications technology industry from around the world to explore their market opportunities in China," a spokesman for the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau said today (October 8).
ITU Telecom World has never before been held outside Geneva. For Hong Kong, hosting the 2006 event would mean substantial economic benefits, as well as broader intangible benefits.
The 2006 event is seen bringing some 100,000 overseas visitors to Hong Kong, generating much business for the tourism and hospitality industry. Moreover, exhibitors would engage supporting professional services, such as construction of exhibition booths, design, marketing, advertising and event management.
"The direct economic benefits generated by the event would amount to around $1.2 billion," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong's bid to host ITU Telecom World 2006 has the full support of the Government of the People's Republic of China, a Member State of the ITU.
"Hosting the next ITU Telecom World will significantly raise Hong Kong's image as both an international telecommunications and Internet hub and an exhibition and conference centre. What's more, it will enhance Hong Kong's reputation as a major business centre in the region," the spokesman said.
The estimated cost of hosting the event is $70 million, covering such expenses as setting up a secretariat office, organising receptions, providing hospitality services and undertaking publicity and marketing.
In 2000 and 2002, Hong Kong played host to the ITU's regional gathering, ITU Telecom Asia. The remarkable success of those events demonstrated beyond a doubt that Hong Kong has the infrastructural support and the high-quality hospitality services needed to host ITU Telecom World 2006.
End/Wednesday, October 8, 2003
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