Global Media Congress’s inaugural edition begins.
Farzana Mansoor
DUBAI (UAE): Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, the first edition of the Global Media Congress 2022 kicked off in Abu Dhabi, under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Media Industry”. The event welcomed the participation of more than 1,200 media sector leaders and pioneers, specialists, influencers, experts, and intellectual icons from six continents.
The opening ceremony of the Global Media Congress was attended by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Shamma binte Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain; His Excellency Ahmed Afif, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles; Mona Ghanem Al Marri, President of the Dubai Press Club; and Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director General of Emirates News Agency (WAM) in addition to 12 ministers from different countries and more than 35 ambassadors to the UAE.
The event was also attended by His Excellency Osman Abukar Dubbe, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Somalia; Walid Ammar Al Lafi, Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs of Libya; Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Services of Zimbabwe; Guy Ahmed, Minister of Justice of the Comoros; Mohamed Idris, Minister of Information of Ethiopia; His Excellency Babacar Diagne, President of the Audio Visual Regulation Council of Senegal.
The opening ceremony, which was organized by ADNEC Group in partnership with Emirates News Agency (WAM), began with the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates. Shamma binte Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs also delivered a speech, which was followed by the first metaverse media interview and an interactive art performance about the future.
In a speech delivered on his behalf Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director General of WAM, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “The UAE, under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, is a futurist state that focuses on the continuous launch of world-class strategic initiatives and projects in various fields and sectors. The UAE has been successful in reaching the world through its influential national media system that applies creativity, innovation, and advanced technology to create reliable and high-quality media content.”
“Our national media is witnessing sustainable development that aligns with the vision of our wise leadership and supports the UAE’s direction for the next fifty years. Over the past decades, the UAE has been able to develop a media system that has become at the forefront of the regional and global scenes and has become a catalyst for achieving development and spreading the values of tolerance, coexistence, and peace,” he added.
“The Global Media Congress, which brings together media leaders, experts,and professionals in the sector, is the culmination of the UAE’s efforts to build an exceptional environment characterized by flexibility and competitiveness and based on an advanced digital infrastructure. This in turn consolidates its position as a global hub and destination that embraces talent, creators, and influencers in the field of media and social communication, particularly in light of the rapid changes and digital transformation.” he added.
The Global Media Congress includes a conference and exhibition, which provides an inspiring platform to learn about the media industry and realize a forward-looking vision for the future of the sector, which has become a major catalyst for sustainable development.
The global event attracts more than 200 CEO’s and includes more than 30 dialogue sessions and more than 40 workshops, in which more than 162 prominent international speakers will participate. In addition, more than 193 prominent media institutions and companies from 42 countries will participate in the exhibition, where they will highlight the latest global technologies specialized in this vital sector.
The Global Media Congress ist edition will also include a number of events held for the first time in the Middle East, including the Global Buyers Program, which provides an exceptional platform to bring together the most prominent buyers and suppliers from all over the world to showcase the best technologies, services, and knowledge in the media sector.
The Congress will feature six major initiatives, including the Live Shows Platform, the Global Program for Empowering Young Media Professionals, the Future Media Lab, the Innovation Platform, the Global Buyers Program, and a special session on the role of media in building a culture of tolerance in human societies.
This year’s Congress focuses on a number of themes, topics, and key issues, including digital communication, the impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary media, and the integration of advanced technologies and innovation in the media sector.
The Event will consist of a series of dialogues, the launch of innovations, interactive workshops, and discussion sessions. This is in addition to allocating a number of areas for meetings with various participants on the sidelines of the event, which will also include a set of specialized sessions in the fields of press, radio, television, the Internet, social media, and global influencers. The Congress will also feature 30 dialogue sessions, highlighting digital technologies, artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, and innovation.
