BARCELONA – ΕΙΒΤΜ - REPORT: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO) are joining hands to provide professiona development training for the congress organizers in the Southeast Asian Region.

In a ceremony to announce the signing of memorandum  of understanding to provide and host regional seminars in 7 Southeast Asian countries from 2013 to 2015, the two organizations disclosed details of the regional training programme.

Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart, TCEB President, announced, “As a government  agency dedicated to supporting the events industry, TCEB is keenly aware of the importance of regional cooperation to boost professional standards within the industry. We expect the forthcoming economic integration within ASEAN in 2015 to drive a major expansion of the events industry in Southeast Asia, and it is therefore crucial to ensure that we start now to develop world-class expertise within the region in order to meet global industry standards.”

We are therefore greatly honoured to have this opportunity to partner with IAPCO, whose world-renowned expertise and leadership in education can now help to develop the potential of conference organizers across the Southeast Asian region : in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. IAPCO is the universally accepted benchmark for quality within congress organization and is the global brand of excellence for the meetings industry. With TCEB’s own expertise and leadership in the region’s event industry, we expect this partnership to make a major contribution to boosting standards of meetings, conventions, congresses and special events for Thailand and the entire Southeast Asian region.”

Under the MOU, TCEB will organize and host exclusive training events in Thailand focusing on Southeast Asian region from 2013 to 2015, targeted at professional congress organizers. The Zurich–based IAPCO will provide accredited presenters and trainers for the training seminars.

The International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO), a non-profit- organization founded in 1968, is the professional association for professional organizers, meeting planners, and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events.

Commenting on the new partnership, Mr Philippe Fournier, President of IAPCO, said: “IAPCO is committed to raising standards of service among its members and other sectors of the meetings industry by means of continuing education and interaction with other professionals. We’re excited at the prospect of interacting with industry leaders around Southeast Asia, as one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions. We’re also delighted to partner with TCEB, which itself has demonstrated its expertise  in driving Thailand’s leadership and standards of excellence in the region’s events and meetings industry.”

With more than 100 members in over 35 countries, IAPCO members provide consulting and organizational services for the clients to the highest standard. IAPCO members organize every year in excess of 5.600 meetings worldwide, and also runs an annual IAPCO Wolfsberg Seminar for Professional Congress Organizers through its Training Academy.