The ITU TELECOM Board recommends final negotiations with Hong Kong, China
The ITU TELECOM Board recommends final negotiations with Hong Kong, China for the next ITU TELECOM WORLD event
Geneva, April 2, 2004 /The Wi-Fi Technology Forum/- Mr Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announces that the TELECOM Board meeting in Geneva (30 March 2004) recommended that final negotiations be conducted with Hong Kong (China) to hold the next ITU TELECOM WORLD event.
The Board of ITU TELECOM considered the candidacies of five cities bidding to be the venue for ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 (Geneva, Hong Kong, Milan, Istanbul and Algiers). A comparison of the bids was reviewed by the Board, focusing both on the responses to the specific requirements of the call for bids and an analysis of the financial conditions.
The Board considered that the bids of Geneva and Hong Kong were the two leading ones. Although the Geneva bid marked a considerable improvement on the terms offered for hosting ITU TELECOM WORLD 2003 (especially with regard to the commitment to guarantee the withdrawal of the "minimum stay" requirement in hotels), nevertheless, the Board expressed a preference for Hong Kong based on the following considerations:
The enormous market opportunity represented by Asia, and by China in particular.
The strong preference of vendors and operators to follow market trends.
The overall costs to exhibitors (taking into account rental rates, sub-contractor rates, hotel rates etc), which are considered to be lower in Hong Kong.
The need to send a signal to the industry of the willingness of ITU to listen to its customers, and to change.
The desire to rotate the World events.
Guarantees offered by Hong Kong concerning the minimum level of space to be purchased by Chinese companies.
The Board invited the Secretary-General to open final negotiations first with Hong Kong, with a view to obtaining the most favourable terms and conditions, particularly with respect to the financial conditions which were not sufficiently attractive. In case the negotiations with Hong Kong do not yield satisfactory results, the decision could therefore be to remain in Geneva. The ultimate decision will rest with the Secretary-General based on the results obtained.
The ITU TELECOM Board is a body whose role is to provide strategic advice to the Secretary-General on ITU TELECOM events and who represent the views of all stakeholders to the events.
ITU TELECOM events were launched more than 30 years ago with the first World event being held in Geneva in 1971. The most recent world event held in Geneva in October 2003 brought together 911 exhibitors representing 51 countries were present with over 375 industry's CEOs and 148 government ministers and regulators participating in the event. Over 1 500 journalists including 300 broadcast media and more than 120 industry analysts were also accredited for the show.
About ITU:
ITU is a world-wide organization which brings governments and industry together to coordinate the establishment and operation of global telecommunication networks and services; it is responsible for standardization, coordination and development of international telecommunications including radiocommunications, as well as the harmonization of national policies.
To fulfil its mission, ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the frequency spectrum as well as the use of all satellite orbits which serve as a framework for national legislations; it develops standards to foster the interconnection of telecommunication systems on a worldwide scale regardless of the type of technology used; it also fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries.
ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world.
Source: ITU
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