Banff, Alta.: Paris-based Reed Midem Organisation, host of the mip-tv and mipcom audiovisual program markets, has announced the launch of WEM – The World Education Market, ‘about the international business of education.’

The inaugural market will be held at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre May 24-27, 2000.

Brigitte Chaintreau, senior vp strategy and diversification with rmo, says more than 40 companies, institutions and organizations from nine countries have joined the WEM Founders’ Club and are committed to exhibit at the inaugural Vancouver market.

Chaintreau, who announced the new market at this month’s Banff Television Festival, says wem will feature an extensive conference program and social and press events, with the focus on distribution across all ages in educational institutions, at-home learning, technical and training facilities, books, television and the Internet.

Like its sister mip and mipcom markets, Chaintreau says wem (www.wemex.com) is aimed at developing new financing resources adapted to the education market, with the business of buying and selling of content, products, rights, systems, services, solutions and expertise high on the four-day agenda.

a/v-related companies signed on for the first wem include the International Association of Educational and Discovery Television Companies (aited – France), BBC Worldwide, Channel Four Learning (u.k.), La Sept arte, MultiRio (Brazil), Open Learning Agency (Canada), pbs (u.s.), Tele-Quebec, tvontario and Canadian Learning Television.

According to Xavier Roy, Reed Midem’s ceo, world trade in education products and services is expected to surpass us$90 billion by the year 2002.