Case study
Budapest calling
Tom Hall checked out September’s ITU Telecom World at Hungexpo
n September Budapest
hosted ITU Telecom
World for a second time,
having hosted the global
telecommunications event for the first
time in 2015.
This year’s four-day exhibition was
held at Hungexpo Budapest Congress
and Exhibition Center.
The event was set-up in three event
halls: the exhibition took up 13,000sqm
in Halls G and F, with 270 exhibitors
from 40 countries participating. The
forum was organised in Hall A in
seven conference rooms. Furthermore,
a large area was separated for
meeting spaces, offices and for the
International Media Centre.
Some 4,000 delegates from 125
countries converged on the Hungarian
capital for the event, which was
opened in the presence of Prime
Minister Viktor Orbán under the
broad theme of ‘Innovating together;
connectivity that matters’.
The Forum convened an
influential global audience spanning
governments, key ICT industry players,
regulators, international organisations,
high-growth SMEs, consultants,
academia and media.
With more than 150 SMEs
exhibiting, and 20 sponsors and
partners from over 40 countries, the
exhibition showcased technologies
from 5G, satellite, e-waste
management, robotics, blockchain,
Smart ABC (Smart AI, Banking and
Right:
ITU dialing
up success in
Budapest
“The success
of the
forum and
exhibition
this year can
be attributed
to the fact,
that the
work among
the three
organisation
teams had
not simply
been a
traditional
customer-
service
provider
co-operation
but more of
a smooth-
operating
partnership.”
Left:
Hungexpo is
hoping to host
all ITU events
between 2023
and 2026
90
Issue 5 2019
Cities), smart agriculture, smart
homes, climate change mitigation,
fintech and more.
National pavilions highlighted
talent, innovation, investment and
partnership potential and included
the host country’s National Pavilion,
showcasing established tech
companies, start-ups, universities and
incubators in Hungary.
The event wrapped up with Internet
Generation Day, a curated programme
of interactive workshops, demos,
competitions, guided tours, company
presentations and more, especially
designed for university students,
young entrepreneurs and innovators.
The appointment of Hungexpo as
event contractor was selected through
an international public tender process
six months prior to the event by ITU.
Hungexpo had clinched a contract
that, as well as a full range of venue
services, included construction, set-up
and dismantle of turnkey stands,
signage and branding elements, show
management, exhibitor services, IT
and utilities services, cleaning and
carpet laying.
During the one-week build-up
period 29 turnkey stands (530sqm), 23
workstation (92sqm) and 3 x20sqm
office suites were built by Hungexpo.
In addition, six (size of 50-360sqm),
custom-made stands totalling 920sqm
were constructed by the team. The
180sqm Innovation Space and a
150sqm Business Matchmaking Zone
was also set-up in the exhibition area.
“It is a great honour and pride for
us that Hungexpo has once again
been chosen as the venue and general
contractor for ITU Telecom World after
the successful 2015 event. The success
of the forum and exhibition this year
can be attributed to the fact, that the
work among the three organisation
teams of the ITU, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Hungexpo had not
simply been a traditional customer-
service provider cooperation but more
of a smooth-operating partnership,”
said Gábor Ganczer CEO of Hungexpo.
Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister
of Foreign Affairs announced at the
closing ceremony of the event that
the government has decided to start
negotiations for Hungary to host all
ITU events between 2023 and 2026.
Hou-lin Csao, General Secretary of
the International Telecommunication
Association, said that the advanced
development of infocommunication in
Hungary provided a good basis for the
next European ITU conference.
Ganczer has also said that, by 2021,
Hungexpo will undergo a complete
refurbishment programme.
w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk