Sharjah is set to host an international gathering to discuss crisis management mechanisms using contemporary and innovative communication means later this month.
The participants will work on defining the future of government speech and the size of partnership they should build to take the right decisions.
The 10th edition of the International Government Communication Forum themed "Historic lessons, Future ambitions" is held under the patronage of Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah.
It kicks off on September 26, and aims at determining the role of communication in setting comprehensive future development plans, especially in the aftermath of a pandemic that has represented a huge challenge for many powerful countries around the world.
The event brings together 79 experts in communication from 11 Arab and foreign countries, and includes 31 events featuring 7 panel discussions, 5 inspirational talks, 7 training workshops, and 12 interactive platforms. These activities focus on the historic experiences of government communication, in addition to the important milestones and transformations the forum saw over the past 10 years.
"The future of communication is not a coincidence, and we can't wait for it. We should make it and shape it ourselves by benefitting from the past lessons and real life experiences," said Tariq Saeed Allay, director general of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, noting that the media and government communication teams faced huge challenges in the past few years.
He also stressed the importance of constant upgrade of communication tools and approaches, and maintenance of the public's trust.
Allay continued: "We have all followed the sharp changes in cultural, economic and social sectors worldwide. The central focus of the upcoming edition of IGCF is to monitor the role of government communication amid these transformations and measure its ability to lead and influence their results, drawing on the lessons of history to create a stable and prosperous future."
Allay also unveiled a strategic 10-year plan of IGCF, announcing that the forum will mark a 'Government Communication and Media Day' every year, launch a professional license project for government communication, issue a refereed scientific journal in the field of government communication, and develop indicators to measure the impact of communication on the positive practices of the public.
He also announced that the forum would establish the Arab Network for Government Communications, issue a guide to crisis management and a second guide for professional controls and ethical standards in government communication.