The government would aggressively promote its educational services abroad to increase its export revenues next year.

The targeted markets are China, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and LaMarCa (Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia).

An exhibit on the country’s educational services was already conducted in Vietnam last year. It introduced English language programs being offered by Philippine schools to Vietnamese students in college, secondary school and business people.

The “Study in the Philippines” promotion exhibit resulted in the country’s signing of memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with seven institutions in Vietnam.

With its success, the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion has proposed another outbound business matching covering education service sector in Vietnam in April.

BETP is also eyeing export niches through nursing and information technology (IT) programs.

“These are the sectors which we think the country could be tapped for education services. Actually, nursing in China did very well so, we are trying to tap into Vietnam,” BETP said.

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) earlier said the Philippines could also niche on programs such as medicine and English language.

Specialized education is among the priority export industries of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) for 2008-2010.

Such emerging service, along with health and wellness, medical tourism, logistics and entertainment, have been identified to give focus on the country’s competitive advantage as potential investment in the region and as the most preferred labor resource in the world.