Hong Kong – Hong Kong has won the bid to host the ITU Telecom World 2006, which will be held at the new AsiaWorld-Expo exhibition centre opening in December 2005 at Chek Lap Kok airport.

Recognised as the Olympics of the global telecommunications industry, ITU Telecom World is the biggest and most important event, bringing together the world’s top-level telecom players from both public and private sectors, heads of states, ministers, regulators and CEOs of multinational corporations.

At least 100,000 overseas visitors will come to the show, Hong Kong Tourism Board sources predicted they would occupy almost every hotel room in the city. Along with another 12 confirmed major international exhibitions in 2006, total contribution of trade shows that year will soar to US$700 million.

AsiaWorld-Expo CEO, Mr Nicolas Borit, said it would be the first time ITU Telecom would be held outside Geneva since its inception in 1971.

ITU will take up all the space in AsiaWorld-Expo. Planners say cross-boundary ferry services and a land transport network linking AsiaWorld-Expo to the key cities in Southern China and Macau will help get visitors smoothly to the fair.

A new Mass Transit Railway station will also link the show ground with the central business district.

The most recent ITU Telecom World in 2003 in Geneva attracted 911 exhibitors representing 51 countries, 375 industry CEOs and 148 government ministers and regulators. It also attracted an average 14,406 visitors daily.