Driving force: Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology Marion Lai joins BMW representatives at the limousine handover ceremony.

BMW Concessionaires (HK) will sponsor 200 limousines for use by government ministers and VIPs attending the ITU Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong from December 4 to 8.

BMW also sponsored more than 200 limousines for the World Trade Organisation Hong Kong Ministerial Conference a year ago.

Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology Marion Lai said the move demonstrates the company's support for Hong Kong as host of major international events.

ITU Telecom World is the most prominent global information and communications technology (ICT) event, with an exhibition and high-level forum.

The exhibition will offer an opportunity for ICT players to showcase their latest equipment, services or technologies, while the forum provides a platform for industry leaders, top policy officials and regulators to exchange views on critical issues of policy and regulation, key technologies as well as business applications and the environment.

The event is expected to attract about 60,000 visitors to Hong Kong, generating a direct economic benefit of about $900 million.