The UAE's ministry of education has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E) - the Middle East's trade show pioneer - to support its recently-launched Gulf Educational Supplies Show (GESS), the region's premier educational, supplies and solutions event.

To be held from January 22 to 24, 2008, at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah, GESS will bring the latest international education products and methodologies to local and regional education professionals as the Gulf's education sector undergoes substantial re-engineering.</p>

The ministry will also certify all education professionals attending the GESS futuristic conferences, workshops and seminars.

Chairman of Fairs & Exhibitions Virginia Kern and under-secretary of the UAE ministry of education Mohammed Juma bin Hindi signed the agreement in presence of the ministry's director for policy and planning department Dr Abdalla Al Amiri.

"Developing a strong educational infrastructure in the UAE and laying the foundations for regional centres of learning excellence is key to ensuring sustained development of our future generations," said UAE minister of education Dr Hanif Hassan Ali.

F&E, the name behind some the region's most successful events such as the Dubai Airshow, has planned a comprehensive exhibition and conference programme for GESS bringing together some of the best international minds and leading academic innovators

"This Ministerial support is invaluable in positioning GESS as the key forum for airing and debating the challenges facing education within the GCC," said Kern.

Consultants and advisors will also be on hand at GESS to advise and assist schools on budget management, planning and training.

GESS has already received a tremendous response from the global education sector with the large groups from the UK and Germany already confirmed.

The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), which boasts over 260 members and UK Trade and Investment Support, World Didac, the global trade association for the education industry and the DDV - The German Educational Supplies Association assisted by support from AUMA - the Association of the German Trade Fair industry -have all pledged support and have long-term agreements in place to work with F&E to grow and develop both GESS and the Global Education Forum in the coming years.

More than 150 exhibitors from 20 countries will participate in the event, according to the organisers. - TradeArabia News Service