Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council (SMC), has said that Sharjah organises the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) to underscore the benefits of well-strategised, clear and effective interactions between governments, public and media. He noted that in the past nine years since the forum’s inception, IGCF has contributed to the advancement of the sector and intends to continue offering its global platform to enable the future development of effective mechanisms, tools and strategies.

This came during Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi’s visit to Expo Centre Sharjah on Sunday to review the final preparations for the ninth edition of the two-day global summit to be held on March 4 – 5, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and organised by the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), a subsidiary of Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB).

The 2020 edition of IGCF will host 64 global thinkers and communications experts representing a comprehensive cross-section of fields from 16 nations worldwide, who will lead 57 events, discussions and workshops, which will focus on four pillars: ‘Embedding a culture of engagement in government’, ‘Technology as a community enabler’, ‘Communication through culture’, and ‘Holistic well-being’.

The Chairman of SMC followed up on all the preparations for the Forum, which hosts leading international communication experts and influencers. He inspected the halls designated to hosting various interactive sessions, panel discussions and training workshops, equipped with the latest high-end audio-visual systems.

During the tour, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi met with the heads of IGCF’s organising committees. He thanked them and expressed his appreciation for their efforts, as well as those of various technical teams. He underlined that the outstanding organisation of the Forum highlighted the emirate’s facilities as ideal venues for regional and global events.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: “This year, IGCF will be organised under four main pillars instead of being led by one slogan. As communication globally enters a decisive new era, this strategic choice was made to shine the spotlight on communication’s growing influence and impact. We hope that the forum’s comprehensive agenda will enable the 16 participating nations to compare, assess and analyse their respective government communication experiences, and in the process, recognise the strengths and weaknesses in their approach to improve responsiveness, earn public credibility, thus reinforcing their positive influence on public opinion.”

Organised by the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), the IGCF has been successful in fostering government communication in the UAE and greater Arab world, and developing communication channels between governments and the public, since its launch in 2012. To achieve its goals, IGCF hosts eminent experts and influential speakers from around the world to share their expertise and visions on the best methods of upgrading government communication and increasing its efficiency in dealing with the challenges facing the world at the present time and in the future.