In a statement issued today, SES chief executive Stephen Tan described the decision as "very difficult," borne out of necessity due to the SARS outbreak and "lack of a suitable time-frame in which to re-schedule the events.
"It is also our utmost priority to safeguard the well-being of our exhibitors and visitors who have shown us unwavering support all these years".
SES said visitors and exhibitors alike had expressed concerns over their safety at the shows and noted that foreign attendance would have been sharply affected by warnings put out by the World Health Organisation and the US Centres for Disease Control against traveling to SARS-affected areas.
Tan said a glut of exhibitions in the second half of the year left no realistic alternative window for postponement. He added the 2004 shows, presently scheduled for 15-18 June.
"This is the most expensive option open to us but we see this as a long-term business decision," Tan added.
"We have to fulfill our responsibility to our exhibitors as well as to preserve the quality and integrity of the shows".
The move follows the postponement of the Computex Taipei 2003 business-to-business IT trade show.
The show's organisers--The China External Trade Development Board and the Taipei Computer Association (TCA)--decided to postpone the event to the second half of this year.
The event was meant take place in Taipei from June 2 to 6 and aimed to attract more than 20,000 foreign visitors.
"This decision comes after a detailed review of all factors, including fears that increased travel restrictions would negatively influence buyer turn out," the parties said in a joint statement.
Kay Chang, a spokeswoman for the TCA said: "Exhibitors and buyers have shown their support for our latest announcement."
She said exhibitors and buyers had been surveyed to check on what they wanted to do.
"The results show that most of the exhibitors would like the show to be postponed due to the current SARS situation around the world," she said.
New dates for Computex Taipei will only be confirmed by the end of next month.
The postponement comes despite the marketing efforts of Taipei's mayor Ma Ying-jeou. Last month, Ma sent out 200,000 letters to overseas buyers in a bid to reassure them that Taipei is safe.
Computex is not the only large-scale IT event in the city to fall victim to the SARS virus. Another tradeshow organised by the TCA--The 2003 Softex tradeshow-- has also been canned.
The event was supposed to start this Friday with support from over 200 companies including global computer giants Hewlett-Packard and IBM.
However, since the SARS outbreak, more than 80 companies have dropped out, while others have appealed for a cancellation. TCA said it will now dig into its own pockets and refund exhibitors 50 percent of their fees.
