Deputy Ruler of Sharjah Closes International Government Communication Forum 2014

• 1,800 Participants Attend Three-day Event
• Forum Offers Key Insights on Stepping up Regional Government Communication Strategies

Sharjah-UAE: 25 February, 2014 – His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, brought the curtains down on the International Government Communication Forum 2014 (IGCF 2014) at a gala dinner that was organised at Expo Centre Sharjah on Monday.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi honoured the speakers, moderators and sponsors of IGCF 2014 for their role in the success of the third Government Communication Forum, which attracted more than 1,800 participants to discussions and presentations spread across three days.

In his concluding speech, His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), said: "We close yet another successful edition of the government communication forum, which began three years ago and has transformed into an international event with a truly global mandate this year. The IGCF story tells of how a local initiative launched by Sharjah Media Centre to strengthen and develop communication mechanisms between various government departments and institutions in the emirate of Sharjah has expanded in scope to become a global event of reckoning.

“Today at the conclusion of the third year, we can safely say that the International Government Communication Forum is a truly world-class event. We at SMC would like to thank you all for the parts you played in writing this success story over the last few days. I am particularly thankful for the one-on-one discussions that I had the privilege to participate in with most of you."

Al Qassimi concluded: “You have enriched the forum by sharing inspirational international communication stories. You also shared actual case studies of governments that lost out for not demonstrating the flexibility, knowledge or speed required to keep up with this rapidly changing world. The digital revolution is still forcing all sectors, without exception, to search for more responsive, transparent and open communication mechanisms."
 
During the gala dinner, Osama Samra, Director of SMC, thanked participants and media representatives for contributing to IGCF 2014. He also acknowledged all the government departments, companies and media organisations that supported the forum as sponsors, including Sky News Arabia, AGMC (BMW), Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Associated Press, Thomson Foundation, Al Khaleej Newspaper, Sharjah Media Corporation, and Tim Hortons.

The International Government Communication Forum 2014 was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in the presence of esteemed leaders such as Mikhail Gorbachev, the forum’s guest of honour and last ruling President of the Soviet Union; Felipe Calderón, former President of Mexico; and Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs/ Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

Themed ‘Different Roles…Mutual Interest’, IGCF 2014 discussed the positive impact of government communication on the relationship between governments and their audiences including citizens, government officials, private sector, public utility commissions and different media stakeholders.

The first regional government communication event was organised by SMC in 2012. The forum discussed relevant communication challenges that were triggered by the socio-political occurrences in the Arab world. As a first-of-its-kind event, IGCF 2014 articulates SMC’s efforts to develop government communication mechanisms for the benefit of government institutions in the UAE and the wider region.

Senior members of the government attended the closing ceremony, in addition to a host of dignitaries, heads of government departments and organisations and media representatives from across the globe.