SHARJAH, September 26, 2021 (WAM) – HH Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, deputy ruler of Sharjah, has emphasized that the development of the human factor, which is so important in nation building, can be achieved by beating the perfect Balance between socio-economic progress and intellectual and emotional development.
This understanding, he said, was the far-sighted vision of S.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the deputy ruler of Sharjah, who laid the foundation for the emirate’s development project with culture at heart more than 40 years ago.
The statements by S.H. Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi came during the opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), held today (Sunday, September 26th) under the theme « Historical Lessons, Future Ambitions » at the Expo Center Sharjah.
At the IGCF 2021 opening ceremony, Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi said, “The development of the human factor so important in nation building can be achieved through the perfect balance between socio-economic progress and intellectual and emotional development of the 80s As the region underwent rapid urban development during its post-oil discovery phase, the ruler of Sharjah focused on building the essential human factor ever since, and the emirate has been on a harmonious development journey ever since, with a dedicated and motivated citizen at its head Target. »
The deputy ruler of Sharjah added, “Effective communication strengthens relationships, protects values and principles, and enables nations to ascend. Today we celebrate a decade of IGCF that has enriched our experience and helped advance government communications in the emirate, in sharing your experience on the forum, we can better learn from historical lessons and guide us as we look to the future.
“IGCF is much more than a forum for researching and evaluating government communications. It delves deep into the core of human relationships. Without communication there would be no relationship between individuals and no shared values or principles – societies would not exist and nations would not « rise up. »
The IGCF 2021 Guest of Honor, HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, said in his keynote address: « I can thank the extent of I to the ruler of Sharjah for the vision and efforts that have made Sharjah a role model for Arab culture, knowledge development and sustainable progress for the world.
“In an era of media and business globalization, we are increasingly networked. This current ‘closeness’ to the world, which has emerged stronger than ever due to the outbreak of a global pandemic that knows no international borders ”or differentiating between peoples or nations – makes it crucial to ensure that we pave a path that will leads all of humanity to protection and prosperity. These are two key aspects of development that should be viewed not only as an end but also as a means. »
He stressed that the greatest challenge facing the world today is to cope with the ongoing transformations to formulate and restructure a new international order, saying: “This is important to highlight the existing balance of power, global changes to take into account at all levels and to respond to the problems of each country. Strive for a just international order that offers a strategic environment for a safe and stable world. Failure to meet this challenge will lead to international conflict and threaten human achievements in all areas and affect the future of globalization. »
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, said: “The IGCF’s launch in 2012 was the result of a shrewd vision and part of a conscious effort to be an important link in the path of change we all strive for as it came shortly after the 2011 crisis that culminated in the ongoing crisis that many countries in the Arab world still suffer from. Problems were caused by a separation between governments and their peoples. »
“Public involvement begins with highlighting the scale of the challenges and problems that society is facing. Sharing this information puts people and governments on the same path and reshapes political discourse based on the prevailing reality, ”he added.
Highlighting the impact of the pandemic, he said, “Over the course of two years we have seen effective communication affecting government performance during a crisis. It is obvious that governments with open communication channels and mutual trust with their peoples are in a position to better manage the crisis and to fulfill their leadership, control and awareness-raising duties faster and more efficiently. »
Dr. For his part, Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said that in order to achieve its goal, effective government communication must be supported by ethical private media, stating that achieving and protecting it was important national goals a collective responsibility. Citing the example of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lessons learned from it, he said a charter to regulate cyberspace is needed so readers can filter facts out of fake news and false information.
« COVID-19 sparked a large number of advocates and believers in conspiracy theory, negatively affecting the efforts of several governments in combating the health crisis, as open and unregulated cyberspace has become a reliable source of information for people around the world This resulted in key government organizations creating official accounts on various social media platforms in order to communicate efficiently with the public around the clock, « he added.
Tariq Saeed Allay, General Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), pointed out that the 10th edition of the annual forum is taking place against the backdrop of a pandemic that has profoundly affected life around the world. Noting that the crisis had changed realities across the spectrum – in work and education; in life; in the entertainment and content industries; and led to fundamental shifts in relationships between individuals and institutions, he stressed that the fundamental issues arising from these changes will be discussed at IGCF 2021.
He said: “In less than 50 years, the United Arab Emirates has taken a leading position in global development indicators, and during that time the Sharjah Cultural Project has left a significant footprint in the region and the world. All of these achievements are based on many factors, « especially learning from past lessons, which is an important pillar of the 10th edition of the IGCF. »
The General Director of the SGMB added: “The theme of the IGCF 2021 brings the present to the fore. Future ambitions are now being created, « stressing that the forum will address changes in concepts, tools and mechanisms of communication while examining how government communication teams can guide ongoing transformations in key sectors. »
“In Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates, a new era is now being marked. Together we will witness the dawn of a new communication era characterized by readiness, agility, specialization and high efficiency, ”concluded Allay.
After the opening ceremony, HH Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi visited the venue of the IGCF 2021 together with other officials present and learned more from the organizers about the most important offers of the two-day forum, which brings together 79 communication experts from 11 Arab and foreign countries to develop innovative crisis management mechanisms to discuss and determine the future of government communications.
The highlights of the forum include 31 events with 7 panel discussions, 5 inspirational lectures, 7 training workshops and 12 interactive programs to introduce the future of government communications and review mechanisms, tools and changes in public perception.
IGCF 2021 partner
This year the IGCF 2021 is organized in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sharjah (SCCI); Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Sharjah Media City (Shams); Sharjah Expo Center; Sharjah Asset Management; Sharjah Trade and Tourism Development Authority; Emirates Airlines; ENEX; Sky News Arabia; Emirates News Agency; Al Ittihad Newspaper; Dar Al Khaleej; Dubai Media Inc; and Dubai TV.
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