Continuity gives event special strength

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 19:

The ninth edition of Nepal’s largest education-cum-book fair ‘Nepal Education and Book Fair 2005’ (NE&BF) is all set to open today at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu.

Organised by Global Exposition and Management Services Pvt Ltd (GEMS), in cooperation with the National Booksellers and Publisher Association of Nepal, the nine-day long event will last till May 28. The event is expected to draw about 60,000 visitors.

Being a pioneer in promoting education, career and professional courses, books and publications under a single roof, the fair has been taking place continuously since 1997. Unlike other events, NE&BF is being held every year since its inception and has grown from strength to strength.

Most industry watchers are unanimous in their opinion that education, career and publications should go hand in hand while keeping in mind interests of all and that it is important to have a common platform to fulfil the needs of these areas under a single roof. Thus, the event was born to bring together all concerned stakeholders, according to the organisers.

The event has been divided in two sections — ‘education and career section in hall A’ and ‘book fair in hall B’. The education and career fair will last till May 23, while the book fair will continue till May 28. “The last eight events have been very successful. Regular support from exhibitors and participants, as well as overwhelming responses from the public are the basic factors that has imparted continuity to it,” says Santosh Chhetri, executive director at GEMS.

Since its inception, the event has grown steadily in all aspects including number of visitors, exhibitors, participants and sales turnover. Started with 47 stalls in 1997, the number of the stalls this year is expected to cross 150. About 20,000 people visited the first event, whereas the figure for last year was above 50,000 visitors, marking a significant growth.

As a result, the event has emerged as an important annual gala for national and international academic and training institutions, professionals, career consultants, publications, NGOs and INGOs, to showcase their products and services.

In the course of time, the number of international participants has also made a notable progress. This year above two dozen Indian institutions and more than a dozen institutions from other countries will add flavour to the event.

International participants from India, China, UK, US, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, Switzerland and Thailand will promote educational courses and other opportunities being offered at their respective institutions. Reputed domestic educational institutions, overseas educational consultants, computer institutes and book publishers and distributors will be representing Nepal’s advancement in the field.

Besides providing a common platform for education enthusiasts and book lovers, the event has been a pioneer in bringing together people from various fields and career-oriented institutions including educational institutions, overseas education consultants, training institutes, schools, colleges, universities, professionals, publishing houses, NGOs, INGOs, and so on under a single roof to cater to the need of general public.

Besides the exhibition, talk programmes, workshops, demonstrations and various educational programmes will be the added attractions, where students, parents, educationists and many others can participate. “Even professors and senior teaching faculty from India and abroad are taking part in the event to counsel students and parents,” informed Chhettri.

The book fair provides a wide range of books and publications to the needy, inculcating reading habits in public. “Most publishers or distributors are here to sell their publications and books at discounted rates, which attracts hundreds of book lovers,” adds Chhettri.

The event is being held under the sponsorship of Padmashree Group of Institutions, British Council, Ekta Books Publishers & Distributors, Lord Buddha Education Foundation, Worldlink, Career Consult Nepal Pvt Ltd, Himalayan Infosys Pvt Ltd, Nepal International Educational Consultancy, Universal Language & Computer Institute, Xavier International College, Landmark Educational Consultancy Centre, Frosty Ice Cream and Sky-Net Courier.