NEWS
WSET GAINED APPROVAL TO RESUME BUSINESS IN CHINA AFTER 11 MONTHS OF SUSPENSION
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
5-1-2022
Source: WSET
The London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been granted an overseas non-government organisation (NGO) status by Chinese authorities, and is working to resume courses and exams after the Chinese New Year holiday.
WSET had to suspend business in the Chinese Mainland at the end of January 2021. Over the last 11 months, WSET has worked hard to meet the requirements of an official overseas NGO status for resuming its activities in China.
WSET also announced the opening of a new office in Shanghai, adding to WSET’s global network of offices in London, Hong Kong and USA.
The organisation has also appointed Willa Yang as Chief Representative to head up its operations in China. She previously held leadership roles at Wine Australia’s China Office and the Australian Trade Commission as well as running her own wine consultancy business for several years.
Commenting on WSET’s return to business in Mainland China, Chief Executive Ian Harris said: “I am delighted that we are now officially approved to resume business in China and, through our network of course providers, we will be able to start offering our qualifications to students once more.”
“I am extremely grateful to our 100 plus Chinese course providers and their students who have supported us over the last 11 months. WSET has a history of over 15 years of empowering drinks professionals and enthusiasts in China through wine, spirits and sake education. My team and I are excited to be able to continue our educational mission.”
Willa Yang, WSET’s new Chief Representative in China, commented: “It is a great honour to join the WSET team. We enter 2022 with excitement and anticipation of great things to come. China’s wine and spirit category has been in continual growth and the demand for our qualifications has never been greater. I look forward to working with our team in China, as well as our course providers, to lead the way in wine and spirits education in 2022 and beyond.”
WSET is now working closely with its course providers and the Chinese authorities and hopes that courses and exams will restart following the Chinese New Year holiday period.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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