ITU TELECOM WORLD will be held at the Palexpo exhibition centre, Geneva from 5 to 9 October 2009. The booth sales for WORLD 2009 have already begun, and this global showcase of state-of-the-art information and communication technologies (ICT) is expected to attract close to a thousand exhibitors from around the world.

The ITU TELECOM WORLD MoU was signed by the Secretary-General of ITU, Dr Hamadoun Touré, the President of the Geneva State government, Mr Laurent Moutinot, and the Geneva State Chancellor, Mr Robert Hensler. The signing ceremony took place in the historic Alabama room of the Geneva State Hall, where the International Committee of the Red Cross was born 145 years ago.

"ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 will be the biggest, most spectacular ICT exhibition and Forum ever," said Dr Hamadoun Touré. "Riding on the wave of innovation unleashed by the ICT industry to meet the ever-growing demand for new products, services and applications, WORLD 2009 will capitalize on new growth centres in the world of ICT. Developing countries, which have been recording the highest growth rates in the world, will fuel growth in the ICT industry by providing new business opportunities."

Dr Touré added that Geneva offers excellent prospects for all comers: manufacturers, service providers, policy makers and, not least, the discerning public. "I am confident that Geneva will provide the best facilities for the record numbers of exhibitors and visitors who are expected to attend this landmark ICT event. ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 will establish a unique networking platform for the top names in the ICT industry to interact with global leaders and, at the same time, showcase their products to the world at large," Dr Touré said.

"It is a privilege for me to sign this agreement," said Mr Moutinot. "I do it in full confidence that each side will fulfil its duty in a way that will contribute to the success of ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009. Geneva will keep building a positive relationship with ITU, notably in the perspective of the 40^th anniversary of ITU TELECOM in 2011."

This was echoed by Mr Hensler, who has been leading the Geneva organization team for ITU TELECOM WORLD since 1991. "We are on the final home stretch leading to ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009," said Mr Hensler. "We have been working together with ITU for eighteen months now to prepare this event and give the participants the welcome they deserve." Forecasting a bright outlook for TELECOM WORLD 2009, Mr Hensler added, "ITU trusted us in choosing Geneva for 2009, and we will pay it back by doing our very best for ITU. All lights are green for 2009!"

The MoU formalizes a series of points beyond the venue rental conditions, addressing concerns such as:

-  exclusive availability for TELECOM guests of 6000 hotel rooms at set prices
-  removal of minimum-stay requirements on these rooms
-  implementation of a control mechanism on hotel rooms

-  a modern venue
-  seven exhibition halls and a congress centre under one roof
-  an international airport connected to the venue
-  all the facilities a large city can offer - but without the drawbacks of distance and commuting time

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