The city of Milan competes with Barcelona, Munich and Paris to host from 2013 to 2017 the Mobile World Congress, plus a packed programme of business and cultural events
Milan, 27th January 2011 – The already-successful Milan lobby, uniting Mayor Moratti and her staff with Fiera Milano Congressi (Fiera Milano’s company dealing with congresses) at the head of a numerous and prestigious procession of public and private bodies, representing the very best of Milan, is on the shortlist of international candidates vying to host the Mobile World Congress, the biggest congress and exhibition event in the world for B2B mobile phone operators. So Milan could be proclaimed mobile world capital and bag an extremely high-profile event, to be held over the five-year period from 2013 to 2017. The announcement of Milan’s entry was made by GSMA, association that represents the interest of the global communications industry, in their shortlist of 4 cities (Milan, Barcelona, Munich and Paris) chosen from 30 candidates. The winner will be announced mid-2011.
Fiera Milano Congressi has proposed its Stella Polare congress centre and the spacious exhibition areas of the Rho trade fair, which can accommodate the approximately 170 thousand square metres of booths expected. The Mobile World Congress alone, which over 4 days hosts premium quality speakers, attracts tens of thousands of delegates annually: the 2011 edition in Barcelona is expected to welcome 50 thousand.
But not only. Over 5 years the winning city would also host a festival with a packed programme of B2B and cultural events and a permanent Mobile World Centre with a retail area, museum, office space, exhibitions and more entertainment events.
Not to mention the technological, social, economic and cultural impact generated throughout the territory, mid-to-long term, by the sheer fact of hosting such an important event.
“We are very pleased to be on the shortlist of possible future Mobile World Capitals”, said Maurizio Lupi, CEO of Fiera Milano Congressi. We have got this far owing to the synergic team efforts made by Fiera Milano Congressi together with the government, the Region, Milan City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and several private companies, to present Milan’s wealth of possibilities for congresses, hotels, B2B, culture and leisure. When Fiera Milano Congressi is chosen to host a great international event, it is the city who is the winner!”
