Sharjah Media Centre Concludes Preparations for IGCF 2015

•    Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre Reviews Final Preparations

Sharjah-UAE: 21 February, 2015 – Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) has concluded preparations for the upcoming International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2015), which will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The forum is set to run from February 22-23 at the Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme “Specific Actions...Better Results”.

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of SMC, visited the Expo Centre in Sharjah to review the overall preparations and the facilities made available to both guests and participants. He also met with the head and members of the organising committee, stressing the importance of putting together an event that is worthy of the reputation of Sharjah and the UAE.

Emphasising the special attention that His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, gives to the forum, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said the event is gearing up to roll out the red carpet for a global repertoire of leaders, experts and speakers, including Lebanese President General Michel Sleiman (2008-2014), President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia; Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia (2010-2013), Lakhdar Brahimi, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (2004-2005), Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission (2004-2014) and Prime Minister of Portugal (2002-2004), amongst others.

Confirming that more than 300 media representatives from across the region and the Arab world, and over 400 students from various public and private universities in the country are anticipated to attend the event, SMC Chairman added that more than 1,000 government representatives, as well as media and government communication experts are set to attend the sessions. Furthermore, a total of 450 participants have enrolled for the various workshops and interactive lectures that will be held as part of IGCF 2015.

Al Qasimi also noted that SMC is currently working round the clock to ensure a resounding welcome to all participants and guests, and provide the best possible resources to the national, regional and international media covering the event. Additional attention is being paid to enabling the new generation of government communication representatives and university students to meet and engage with the distinguished experts attending the forum.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi finally acknowledged the leading role of the forum’s strategic partners and sponsors, which include Emirates Airlines (Airline Partner), Arabian Gulf Mechanical Centre – BMW (Official Car), Getty Images, twofour54 and Microsoft (Content Partners), Sky News Arabia (Regional Media Partner), The New York Times (International Media Partner), Tomson Foundation (Training Partner), National Media Council, Al Khaleej newspaper, Al Bayan newspaper and Dubai Radio (Media Partners), National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), Pink Caravan, Tim Hortons and Expo Centre Sharjah (Partners).