The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) launched today BESS Vietnam, the British Educational Suppliers Show Vietnam, to give British suppliers the chance to enter the education market in this booming country.

BESA will be partnering with Giaoducso in the running of the event, which will take place between 5 and 6 March 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) will be making a number of grants available for UK companies to attend the show through their Tradeshow Access Programme, which BESA will be administering.

Vietnam has been experiencing rapid and inclusive economic growth since the early 1990s (World Bank, 2016). After developing the Fundamental School Quality Level in 2006, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) is now looking to change the country’s curriculum, aiming to have new resources in place by 2020. This is an exciting time for the UK to get involved in a growing education market.

Caroline Wright, Director General of BESA, said:

“Vietnam’s exciting vision for education is leading to the development of closer links and synergies between our two education systems and resources. World-leading UK education suppliers have been working closely with Vietnamese educationalists over recent years and BESS Vietnam will further strengthen these connections.

“We are looking forward to working with Giaoducso and the UK and Vietnamese governments to launch BESS Vietnam, and are delighted that the Department for International Trade is providing grants so that SMEs from the UK can take advantage of the opportunity.”

William Prieto-Parra, Head of Events at BESA, said:

“This is a really exciting opportunity for the whole of the UK educational suppliers sector, as it will give them the chance to work more closely with the Vietnamese government on the new curriculum, at a time of rapid change.

“I expect BESS Vietnam to become another unmissable event for our world-leading British educational suppliers, to help them build upon their strong track-record of export success in the region.”

Mr Binh, Chairman of Giaoducso, said:

“We are honoured to work with BESA to organise this British exhibition show. It will provide a bridge for British companies to support and lend their educational expertise to the Vietnamese government as they develop a new curriculum.

We look forward to working with UK companies to maximise their opportunities to engage with the Vietnamese education market at BESS Vietnam, and know they will receive a warm welcome by educators and officials from across the country.”

The event builds upon BESA’s strong track-record of setting up events around the world:

• In 1985, BESA co-founded the Bett Show. Now owned by Ascential Events, it has now grown to be the largest educational technology event around the world, welcoming each year tens of thousands of attendees from around the world.
• In 2004, BESA set up BES Dubai, the precursor to GESS Dubai – now owned by Tarsus – which has become the main educational event serving the Gulf region.
• Three years later, BESA started BESS Asia in Malaysia, bringing together thousands of educational professionals and decision-makers from across the region. Today BESA continues to collaborate successfully in the market through working with Ascential Events on Bett Asia.

-ENDS-

BESA’s directors and head of events, and a wide range of members are available for comment. To discuss this story further, contact: Cleo Fatoorehchi cleo@besa.org.uk / +44(0)20 7537 4997

To apply for a DIT grant to attend the show, visit: www.bessvietnam.com

About BESA:

BESA, the British Educational Suppliers Association, is the only trade association covering the entirety of the UK educational suppliers sector. It has an 85-year heritage serving the sector, and represents over 400 suppliers, including manufacturers and distributors of equipment, materials, books, consumables, furniture, technology, ICT hardware and digital-content related services to the education market. Combined, they generate approximately $3 billion of revenue each year.

BESA is dedicated to showcasing the world-leading educational products and services provided by British educational suppliers, and providing support and advice to its members, the industry and to schools looking for the best resources and services.

It founded the BETT show in 1985, the largest EdTech exhibition in the world, GESS Dubai (then BES Dubai) in 2004 and the Education World Forum in 2011. BESA also runs the EdTech Exchange, which is Europe’s largest network of EdTech founders.

Working closely with the Department for Trade, BESA helps take over two hundred companies overseas every year to a wide range of important export markets, from the US to Malaysia and China, providing intelligence briefings, logistical support and often substantial bursaries.

BESA has a Code of Practice to which all members must adhere, along with a stringent membership process, both of which assure buyers of a high standard of quality in both product and customer service.

For more information, visit: www.besa.org.uk