Barcelona formally presented the proposal on 26 March and the organisation on Wednesday confirmed it is evaluating the offer and will make a decision in the next few months.
“It’s a decision we’ve been thinking about for some time”, replied the Mayor when questioned by the media during the annual day for the citizen’s agreement for an inclusive Barcelona. “Seeing the results of the congress and our capitality, we want to get ahead of the field and we’ve made an offer to keep it until 2023” added Trias, who was satisfied and optimistic about the proposal made to the GSMA. “This is a revolution and you’re either part of it or you’re not. We want to be part of it”, underlined Trias.
The contract between GSMA and Barcelona as the world capital for mobile phones and host of the World Mobile Congress will expire at the end of 2018. However, the city has always shown its interest in extending the agreement in order to keep a trade fair which last year alone generated some 435 million euros for the metropolitan rea.
This year it’s a decade since the MWC came to Barcelona and every edition sees numbers up on the previous year. This year’s event saw over 93,000 visitors attend, representing a 9% increase on last year. Some 2,000 exhibiting companies from around the world took part, creating 12,700 temporary jobs in the process.