The World Expo 2010 in Shanghai will greatly promote the city's modern service industry, particularly in terms of professionals' pool, said the Expo organizer and a leading official of the Shanghai Municipal Personnel Bureau.

To ensure the city will have enough qualified professionals to run the Expo in 2010, the Shanghai Municipal Personnel Bureau and Shanghai World Expo (Group) Co Ltd jointly launched a human resource development center Monday, marking the beginning of personnel training for the Expo.

The new center will shoulder the responsibility to develop and train personnel required by the Expo.

"Human resources are the most critical resource for us to host a successful Expo," said Dai Liu, chairman of the Shanghai World Expo Group.

"We hope the center will provide Expo with people with global vision, innovation and hands-on experience in various areas," he added.

The center will cooperate with various domestic and foreign schools and training organizations to train people in exhibition, tourism, translation and construction skills.

The center signed agreements with Shanghai University of Foreign Trade at Monday's opening ceremony to set up the first Expo international business specialist test, authorization and training base.

The center also teamed up with Changning District to establish the first Expo volunteer training base.

The center will also set up two working platforms, one in China, the other overseas, to offer training and provide internships and employment.

According to Cai Zhiqiang, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Personnel Bureau, the World Expo will largely upgrade the overall level of skills in Shanghai in order to suit the needs of the modern service industry, particularly in the exhibition industry.

But Shanghai lacks enough qualified people to work in the modern service sector that it is striving to build.

"We believe this center will not only benefit the World Expo, it will also help train more qualified people for the whole city's service industry," he said.

Dai said the center aims to be a prominent training organization for professionals specializing in exhibitions and related areas, and eventually forge a renowned brand image in the training industry.

(China Daily August 10, 2004)