Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest show for smartphones and related technology, has been officially canceled due to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak.
The MWC 2020 was scheduled to take place in Barcelona from February 24 to the 27. However, due to the coronavirus fears, many companies have canceled the plan to attend the show with some Chinese exhibitors hoping to get refund or extend it to the next session.
The GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible to hold the event, GSMA CEO John Hoffman said in a statement on Wednesday.
John Hoffman, CEO of the GSM Association (GSMA) said in a statement posted on the MWC website frontpage that the coronavirus outbreak has made it impossible to hold the event.
Here is the full statement:
Since the first edition of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2006, the GSMA has convened the industry, governments, ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders across the broader ecosystem.
With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event.
The Host City Parties respect and understand this decision.
The GSMA and the Host City Parties will continue to be working in unison and supporting each other for MWC Barcelona 2021 and future editions.
Our sympathies at this time are with those affected in China, and all around the world.
Further updates from the GSMA, are on our website and can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com.
As countries around the world take measures to prevent the new coronaviruses and implement quarantine observations on Chinese tourists, they will have a huge impact on Chinese companies participating in MWC 2020.
Several days ago, GSMA released measures concerning Chinese firms. On the one hand, exhibitors from Hubei Province are banned from participating, and on the other hand, 14 days of overseas health and safety requirements are imposed on Chinese tourists.
Affected by this, the number of Chinese participants has shrunk significantly. According to a Tencent News report, Chinese exhibitor agency said the number of Chinese exhibitors has fallen by more than 80% compared with previous years.
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