The mission, led by US Department of Commerce'sUnder Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez, aimed tobring more Vietnamese and Indonesian students to the US , as well asopen the door for sharing faculty and research.
Theundersecretary said the mission is part of an Obama administration goalto double US exports in five years. "Higher education ranks among thetop 10 US exports,” Sanchez said. "I see no more valuable exportthan education.”
“ Vietnam and Indonesia werechosen because these countries show the best growth for sending studentsto the US to study,” Sanchez said.
During theirstay in Vietnam , the mission is expected to hold market briefings,education partnering workshops, and educational fairs where expectedattendance should be between 1,200-2,000 people, among other activitiesin Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi .
With apopulation of 86 million, a steadily increasing per capita income, andthe high value the Vietnamese place on education, Vietnam offerssignificant opportunities to US providers of education services.
Vietnam now ranks ninth among countries sending students to the US. /.