Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Media Council, the 13th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2024) will commence tomorrow, Wednesday, at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Agile Governments… Innovative Communication’.

Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the forum will bring together over 250 world-renowned experts and specialists to discuss critical topics across 18 diverse platforms. They will share their insights, experiences, and expertise to formulate recommendations and initiatives that will equip countries worldwide with future communication strategies and practices, enhancing their roles in achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.

This year’s forum will feature over 160 activities, including main and side sessions, inspirational speeches, and a training program comprising 40 capacity-building workshops, youth-focused activities, and platforms showcasing the latest research and academic theses in communication sciences. Over 40 local, regional, and international partners support the event.

Prominent local, Arab, and international speakers

The distinguished list of speakers at the 13th edition includes H.E Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; H.E Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office; H.E Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah; H.E Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai; H.E Simon Robert Kofe, a leading global voice on climate and sustainability; Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Director-General of UAE National Media Office; Dr. Ahmed Al Awadhi, Senior Vice President for Community and Government Affairs and Director of the Emirati Genome Programme; and His Excellency Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of the UAE Competitiveness Council.

They will be joined by Annelie Pompe, adventurer; Hector Monsegur, founder of a cybersecurity startup; Rachid El Yazmi, Moroccan engineer and inventor; Justin Lin, global economist; Professor Fumio Hayashi, Japanese economist; Dr. Nader Al Ghazal, certified digital transformation advisor from MIT; Bear Grylls, British explorer; Maya Ghazal, the first Syrian refugee pilot and UN goodwill ambassador; Zachery Dereniowski, humanitarian and content creator; Dr. Alan Smithson, co-founder of MetaVRse; and Dr. David Lallment, head of the Disaster Analytics for Society Lab in Singapore. The forum will be presented by HE Mohammed Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, alongside Osama Mounir, Egyptian media personality.

Strategic Partnerships

The forum’s main sessions will be supported by strategic partners, including du from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, Arada, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and Sharjah Media City (Shams).

Five pillars

The forum’s agenda is structured around five main themes: The Impact of Government Communication on Economic Resilience’, ‘Communication and Adventure Tourism to Develop the Tourism Economy,’ ‘The Role of Effective Communication in Attracting Talent as a National Asset,’ ‘The Future of Government Communication in the Digital Age,’ and ‘The New Wave of Personal Interaction’.

The forum will explore the significance of innovative communication as governments worldwide adopt agile governance to enhance innovation and develop future opportunities. This includes leveraging technological solutions to contribute to global efforts in addressing shared challenges, achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, supporting economic resilience, and food and environmental security.