His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, President and patron of the Arab Thought Forum, will be guest of honour at the 9th International Government Communication Forum (ICGF) in Sharjah, where he will deliver a keynote address during the opening ceremony on March 4, 2020.

A writer and thinker, HRH El Hassan bin Talal is a leading figure supporting regional causes and dedicates himself to development projects as well as social and humanitarian causes globally.

Organised by the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), a subsidiary of Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the two-day forum will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. High-profile government officials, local and international government communication experts and industry leaders from across the world will congregate at this annual event to share expertise on key issues like the strategic role of communication in an age of radical technology disruption, and many others.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council (SMC), said that having HRH El Hassan bin Talal as guest of honour at IGCF 2020 aligns with Sharjah’s keenness to learn from leading Arab thinkers and achievers sharing their knowledge and expertise, and benefit from their vast experiences.

The SMC Chairman added that the participation of this thinker and researcher would enrich IGCF’s offerings and help advance its goals in government communication.

HRH Talal is a leading a humanitarian figure in the region who believes that anything that may threaten the safety and dignity of an individual must be questioned and brought under the spotlight regardless of political or economic ramifications. HRH Talal banks on communication and dialogue as key tools for correcting misconceptions and a key to building and nurturing cooperation between different cultures and faiths.

He stresses the importance of sharing knowledge and creativity, now that globalisation is a fact, not just an option. He notes that the real challenge lies in managing communication effectively to fulfill our current needs.

HRH Talal has founded and is actively involved in several Jordanian and international institutes and committees. In Jordan, he established the Royal Scientific Society, the Higher Council for Science and Technology, the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, and launched El Hassan Youth Award in 1984.

Following the 11th Arab summit conference in 1981, he established the Arab Thought Forum, together with leading Arab thinkers, decision makers and development experts. Based in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the Forum is an independent, intellectual, pan-Arab non-government organisation, which dedicates itself to the study of the current situation in the Arab world, as well as develops projects that would lead to practical solutions on issues involving unity, security and socioeconomic development.

HRH Talal established the Annual Bilad Al Sham Conference in 1978, the Royal Aal Al Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in 1980; as well as the Triannual Conferences on the History and Archaeology of Jordan. He also established the Al  al-Bayt University.

In 2003, His Royal Highness launched Partners in Humanity, a joint humanitarian initiative with John Marks from Search for Common Ground (SFCG), which aims to improve understanding, build positive relationships and promote dialogue between the Muslim world and the West.

In 2009, Prince Talal launched the West Asia – North Africa Forum (WANA Forum), a long-term initiative that brings together decision makers, civil society organisations, religious leaders, researchers, business owners, media representatives and other relevant regional stakeholders to assess regional challenges and identify opportunities for regional cooperation in addressing them.

Featuring an extensive discussion agenda including panel discussions, inspirational speeches, workshops and interactive forums, speakers at IGCF 2020 will include international media and PR stalwarts, policy experts, social entrepreneurs, and communications and technology experts. The 2020 edition will also mark the launch of IGCF Learn, a new capacity building platform offering multi-level multi-competency training, announced the organisers.