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, Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang says.

In hosting the event, Hong Kong will enjoy unique advantages as the gateway to the Mainland market, which has been strengthened with the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

Speaking today at the event's launch ceremony in Busan, South Korea, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong combines the benefits of a first-class business hub with a location and network that make it the ideal launch platform to the Mainland.

Seminars, forums & study tours

Mr Tsang said the event will provide a great platform for participants to meet, network and 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," he said.

"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. 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."

The Vice Minister of the Mainland Information Industry Jiang Yaoping and International Telecommunication Union Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi also officiated at the launch.

100,000 visitors, $1.2b in economic benefits

The event will be staged in 66,000 square metres of exhibition space at AsiaWorld-Expo, now being constructed near Hong Kong International Airport.

It is estimated the conference will attract some 100,000 overseas visitors, generating about $1.2 billion in economic benefits. The hospitality and tourism industries will reap substantial benefits while exhibitors will also engage supporting professional services, such as construction of exhibition booths, design, marketing advertising and event management.

The event comprises an exhibition and 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.

ITU Telecom World is the most prominent global telecommunications event held every three to four years. Hong Kong previously hosted the ITU Telecom Asia in 2000 and 2002.