Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Capital, Barcelona, semiconductor Barcelona selected to host MWC through 2018

LONDON – Barcelona in Spain has been selected to host the Mobile World Congress exhibition from 2012 to 2018, according to the GSM Association Ltd., the industry body which organizes the event. The award is said to be worth 3.5 billion euro (about $5 billion) to the city in terms of spending and increased trade.

MWC has taken place in Barcelona for a number of years but 18 months ago GSMA opened up a tendering process and other cities including Milan, Munich and Paris had been in contention to take over from Barcelona.

GSMA is labeling Barcelona Mobile World Capital and Barcelona will host activities throughout the year that will benefit not only the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, but also the worldwide mobile industry, the GSMA said.

The Mobile World Congress is a four-day event which in 2011 attracted more than 60,000 attendees from 200 countries, including 3,000 CEOs.

In addition Barcelona plans to create the Mobile World Center which will include permanent and temporary exhibitions and the Mobile World Festival, which is targeted to the general public, and will include sporting events, music and art festivals and film awards.

The combined packages is expected to generate more than 300 million euro (about $430 million) in the first year and create thousands of part-time jobs. Over the seven years to 2018 the award is said to be worth 3.5 billion euro (about $5 billion) to Barcelona.


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www.mobileworldcongress.com

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Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Capital, Barcelona, semiconductor Barcelona selected to host MWC through 2018