Strong competition for ITU global telecom expo

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 09 March 2006 16:34

IT Industry - Strategy

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has announced that Paris, Geneva, Dubai and Birmingham are vying to host ITU Telecom World 2009, one of the most important exhibitions in the global telecommunications industry which brings millions of dollars to the host city.

Until 2003, the event had been held every four years in Geneva since 1983. Hong Kong was selected to be the venue of ITU Telecom World 2006 following a competitive bid process in 2004. It will take place from 4 to 8 December and is expected to attrat 800-900 exhibiting companies. According to the ITU, Hong Kong's financial secretary is expecting direct economic benefits to the local economy of $US155 million.

The review of bids received for future ITU Telecom events will top the agenda of the next ITU Telecom board meeting to take place on 20 March in Hong Kong. The board - a body whose role is to provide strategic advice to the secretary-general on ITU Telecom events and to represent the views of all stakeholders to the events - will consider the offers along with the results of technical visits to tendering venues and last minute updates of the bids, taking into account the level of support from the governments of the candidates' countries. The board is expected to make a recommendation to the secretary-general who will announce his decision soon after.

At the meeting the ITU Telecom board will also make recommendations to the secretary-general about the venue selection for the  ITU Telecom Americas 2007 and ITU Telecom Europe 2007 regional events. Buenos Aires, Montego Bay and San Salvador have submitted bids for the upcoming Americas event. Candidates to host the Europe event include Sofia, Bucharest, and Geneva. The decision on the venue for these two events will be made at the same time as the World event.