American Marketing Association Will Create Marketing Certification Program in China

CHICAGO, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Marketing Association (AMA), the largest professional association for marketers in North America, will develop a training and certification program for marketers in China.

On July 26, 2012, the AMA signed a cooperative agreement with the Training Center for the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (TCSAFEA) in Beijing to create a training program for senior marketing professionals in China. The program, which will consist of globally applicable marketing concepts and theories, will allow senior marketers in China to become certified masters of marketing. During the signing ceremony in Beijing, the participants also unveiled the establishment of the Sino-US International Sales and Marketing Knowledge System R&D Center to co-develop new professional qualification certifications. The center is a cooperative alliance between TCSAFEA, the AMA and the Business Marketing Institute (BMI).

According to Bai Jixun, director of TCSAFEA, "There is a promising future in China for cooperation in marketing practices and this is the right time for introducing high-quality marketing programs."

Dennis Dunlap, the AMA's CEO, was accompanied at the signing ceremony by David Reibstein, 2012-2013 chairman of the AMA Board of Directors and a distinguished professor of marketing at the Wharton School of Business, and Marisa McCarren, the AMA's international director. Mr. Dunlap said in his address to the media audience in Beijing, "The signing of the cooperative agreement is a big step toward what we believe will be a deeper and enduring relationship that will benefit all three organizations." Mr. Dunlap continued:  "We are very excited and committed to global expansion and to the China market long-term. We believe that the AMA can be a bridge between the government, business and academic community in China to help drive the acceptance and maturity of marketing to support China's economic growth, to be an advocate for the strategic role of marketing in organizations and, most important, to help build the knowledge and competency of marketing professionals in China."

About the Training Center for the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs
The Training Center for the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, based in Beijing, is authorized by the State Council for specialized administration of Overseas Expertise Introduction. It is responsible for international exchange and cooperation introducing and promoting advanced, applicable and mature body of knowledge into China.

About the Business Marketing Institute
Through its strategic alliances with the Business Marketing Association, the Institute for the Study of Business Markets and other partners, corporations and individual marketing professionals have access to Business Marketing Institute (BMI) assessment, training and certification programs. BMI, based in Chicago, is actively building alliances with trade associations, corporate partners and other organizations both in the U.S. and internationally to develop and administer sales and marketing training and certification programs for B-to-B organizations.

About the American Marketing Association
The American Marketing Association (AMA), the largest marketing association in North America, is a professional organization for individuals involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing worldwide. It works to help marketers deepen their marketing expertise, elevate their careers and, ultimately, achieve better results. Through partnerships and alliances with marketing organizations around the world, the AMA connects members with marketing professionals throughout its increasingly international and interconnected network. Learn more at MarketingPower.com.

For more information, contact:

Marisa McCarren
International Director
American Marketing Association
311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 5800
Chicago, IL 60606
T + 1 312 542 9044
www.marketingpower.com
[email protected]

SOURCE American Marketing Association