The CEO of GSMA, John Hoffman, has reaffirmed its desire to hold a Mobile World Congress (MWC) in person and warned that the organization “would only consider a change of plans” by decision of the health authorities. After a very small edition held in 2021, the fair aspires to return to higher attendance figures. For now, Hoffman has announced that the MWC is waiting more than 1,500 exhibitors and attendees from more than 150 countries between the February 28 and March 3 in a letter made public this Monday. “A lot of things have changed in the last two years, but our determination to bring the industry back together is indestructible,” said the manager, who faces the 2022 edition with “confidence.”
The cancellation of the 2020 edition was the first symptom of the pandemic in Catalonia. Although at that time the authorities insisted that there was no health risk, the fair ended up choosing to listen to the voices warning of the dangers of covid-19, which at that time had not yet been detected in Catalonia, following an avalanche of exhibitor casualties.
Now, Hoffman is once once more encouraging mobile industry and political class representatives to gather at the MWC. “In eight weeks’ time, Fira Gran Via will open its doors to the global mobile industry, whom I would like to welcome,” said the GSMA CEO, who called for “responsible leadership”. to deal with the covid.
“This kind of leadership must inspire innovation and encourage investment that will advance industry, society and the economy, while maintaining the security of all,” he insisted. Therefore, he insisted that the plans to make the MWC face-to-face will only change “under the decision of the Spanish authorities”.
Hoffman added that the three congresses organized during 2021 in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles and the scientific advances to fight the pandemic give “confidence to meet safely once more in 2022.”
The organizers hope to gather in Barcelona this February more than 1,500 exhibitors and attendees registered from 150 countries in a show that will open its doors to representatives of the mobile industry, both consolidated and start-ups, opinion leaders and also to political representatives. As a novelty in 2022, the MWC will offer the Industry City space.
“We will show what ‘Unlimited Connectivity’ is and its potential around the world,” said Hoffman, who thanked the business people who are planning the trip to Barcelona. The CEO of the GSMA closes the letter by referring to the relationship with the Catalan capital, with which the fair has a contract until 2024. “Barcelona is really the home of the MWC and its gravitational attraction is very strong,” he said. before adding that although the congress “will always be available online” he hopes to see everyone in Barcelona between February 28 and March 3.
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