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Hong Kong is gearing up for ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 and is determined to make the event a success, the Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology), Mrs Marion Lai, said today (November 9).
The expo, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), will be held at the AsiaWorld Expo at Chek Lap Kok from December 4 - 8, 2006.
Mrs Lai said the exhibition was the most prominent global telecommunications, as well as information and communications technology (ICT), event held once every three years. "With the strong support of the Central People's Government, Hong Kong won the bid to host the event. It will be the first time the event has taken place outside of ITU's home base in Geneva since the launch of the event in 1971," she said.
"The theme for the expo will be 'Living the Digital World'. The event will create a platform for showcasing the strengths of the local ICT and related industries and for international exchange, while highlighting Hong Kong as the gateway to the vast Mainland market. It will also further strengthen Hong Kong's international status as a global telecommunications hub, and the world's events capital," she said.
Mrs Lai said preparations for the event were going well, with all 66,000 square metres of exhibition space leased out. Over 600 international telecommunications and ICT companies will showcase their latest products and technologies at the exhibition.
"It is expected that the event may attract up to 60,000 visitors, comprising 35,000 to 50,000 trade visitors, 2,500 forum delegates, 2,000 VIPs and 1,500 international media representatives, generating about $900 million of direct economic benefit for Hong Kong.
"The event will also bring enormous intangible benefits, reinforcing Hong Kong's image as Asia's world city, a telecommunications, financial and business hub, as well as the gateway to the vast Mainland market," Mrs Lai said.
As the host city, Hong Kong is responsible for assisting ITU in marketing the event globally, organising official and social functions, and providing a range of protocol services, hospitality and side programmes for the participants.
"We have been liaising with relevant government departments and outside organisations with a view to providing services for visitors, efficient transportation services for travel between AsiaWorld Expo and downtown, as well as logistics support for a number of the event's official functions," Mrs Lai said.
"A Business Facilitation Programme will be organised for participants to enhance their understanding of the Mainland ICT market, and to provide pre-event and onsite exchange platforms for local, Mainland and overseas trade visitors.
"Seminars, service and product presentations, etc, will be delivered at the Hong Kong, China Pavilion during the event week. We will also arrange tours to Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing to visit the leading telecommunications operators and equipment manufacturers in the Mainland," Mrs Lai said.
The event will comprise two parts - a world-class exhibition and a high-level forum. The exhibition will enable industry players to showcase their latest equipment, services or technologies to their clients, while the forum will provide a platform for industry players, users and senior government officials to debate critical issues in policies and regulation, key technologies, business applications and environment.
Ends/Thursday, November 9, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:47
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