South Korean tech giant Samsung skips MWC Shanghai 2023 trade show for unknown reasons in break from annual participation
- Samsung’s absence at MWC Shanghai marks the first time the company has not taken part in this annual regional trade show since at least 2017
- Earlier this year, Samsung was a major exhibitor and sponsor at MWC Barcelona, the world’s biggest mobile communications industry trade show
The South Korean tech conglomerate’s absence at the three-day MWC Shanghai, which returned as an in-person event this year and concludes this Friday, marks the first time the company has not taken part in the annual trade show since at least 2017, according to public information on its website. Samsung even had a booth at MWC Shanghai during the event’s pandemic-marred 2021 edition.
By contrast, Seoul-based Samsung – which remained the top global smartphone vendor in the first quarter and the whole of 2022, according to research firm IDC – had eight stands at MWC Barcelona 2023, organiser GSM Association’s (GSMA) flagship annual mobile industry trade show, which was held from February 27 to March 2 in the capital of Spain’s autonomous community of Catalonia.
Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for comment since Wednesday. MWC Shanghai organiser GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, said it had no response to Samsung’s absence.
Still, there were other major industry stalwarts that did not exhibit at this year’s MWC Shanghai.
Ericsson planned to set up a booth at MWC Shanghai, but then “backed out” just before the event opened this week, according to the representative who declined to be named. Qualcomm was initially booked as an exhibitor, but later decided to cancel for reasons unknown to the trade show’s organiser.
But unlike Samsung, both Ericsson and Qualcomm were included among MWC Shanghai’s 15 major corporate sponsors. Senior executives from the two firms were also among the featured speakers at the event.
MWC Shanghai returns as in-person event after 2-year pandemic hiatus
Samsung’s no-show at MWC Shanghai has come at a time of rising tensions between China and South Korea.
China-South Korea tech trade slumps in May amid changes in chip supply chain
The diminishing tech trade, particularly in semiconductors, between the two countries comes after China’s standing in the global chip supply chain was affected by Seoul’s decision to closely align its interests with Tokyo and Washington.
Chinese technology companies, meanwhile, seized the limelight at MWC Shanghai, making up for the absence of some major foreign companies.
Huawei, Chinese telecoms firms tout 5G as life-changing tech at MWC Shanghai
A delegate from US semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said China remains “very important” to the company, despite external uncertainties.
“Compared with the Barcelona event we just attended, the size of the Shanghai event is smaller but the technology is more ahead as China continues to drive innovation,” said Gilles Garcia, a senior director at AMD’s data centre and communications group.
A total of 300 exhibitors from across the globe took part in MWC Shanghai at the Shanghai International Expo Centre. The event, which marked its first decade in China, was expected to attract 3,000 visitors, according to London-based GSMA.