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Hong Kong is determined to give all participants in ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 a fruitful experience in widening their business network worldwide and exploring further opportunities in the China market, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, said today (September 8).
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Busan, Korea, Mr Tsang said: "In hosting ITU Telecom World 2006, Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages as the gateway to the China market. Hong Kong combines the benefits of a first-class business hub with a location and network that make it the ideal launching platform to Mainland China.
"The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which began implementation in the beginning of this year, will further strengthen Hong Kong's strategic position as the gateway to China."
Mr Tsang pointed out that ITU Telecom World 2006 would provide a great platform for participants to meet, to network and to do business with leading names from across the globe.
"As the host city, we will add further value to the experience in Hong Kong for our participants. For those looking for development opportunities with Chinese companies, we intend to organise specific seminars, forums and study tours to foster participants' understanding of the latest market trends and relevant polices and regulations in the Chinese market.
"We also intend to provide business facilitation services before, during and after the event to assist participants in forming partnerships with Mainland and Hong Kong companies. In short, we aim to give participants a fruitful experience that will lead to productive outcomes as part of their participation in the ITU Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong," Mr Tsang said.
The Vice Minister of Information Industry of the People's Republic of China, Mr Jiang Yaoping, and the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr Yoshio Utsumi, also officiated at the launch ceremony. A reception will be hosted jointly by Mr Jiang and Mr Tsang this evening to mark the official launch of the event.
It is estimated that the conference will attract some 100,000 overseas visitors, generating about $1.2 billion of direct economic benefit for Hong Kong. In particular, the hospitality and tourism industries will reap substantial benefit from the event being staged in the territory.
Moreover, exhibitors will engage supporting professional services, such as construction of exhibition booths, design, marketing advertising and event management.
ITU TELECOM WORLD is the most prominent global telecommunications event. It is held every three to four years. Hong Kong previously hosted two ITU regional events - ITU TELECOM ASIA 2000 and ITU TELECOM ASIA 2002.
The event comprises two parts - the exhibition and the forum. The exhibition enables industry players to showcase their latest equipment, services or technologies, while the forum provides a platform for the participants to debate critical issues of policy and regulations, key technologies and business applications and environment.
The event will be staged in the 66,000 square metres of exhibition space offered by the AsiaWorld-Expo, currently being constructed adjacent to Hong Kong International Airport.
Ends/Wednesday, September 8, 2004
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