Qatar Post said it has signed an agreement with Arab Direct Marketing Association (ADMA) to host the association's forum at Doha this year.

The Arab Direct Mail & Marketing Forum, will be held at the Qatar Foundation Campus from May 4 to 5.

Qatar Post aims to play a key role at the forum in boosting the direct marketing industry in the Arab world, said Abdurrahman Bin Ali Al Aqiely, Qatar Post acting president after signing the deal with Yousef Hamidaddin, ADMA chief executive officer.

'Through this agreement we expect to develop and activate direct marketing services and apply the tools of technology used for these services around the world,' Al Aqiely remarked.

ADMA (in partnership with US-based Global Direct Marketing Association (DMA) was launched at last year's forum under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the governor of Makah Region.

ADMA has the support of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) governor Amr Al-Dabbagh, Saudi Post CEO Dr. Benton and Emaar CEO Fahd A. Al-Rasheed as a way to develop and grow direct marketing across the global Pan-Arab community.

“DMA brings its expertise and experience in marketing education, research and market development to this ‘timely mission’ of creating a direct marketing industry in the Arab world. Its vision is one of increasing intelligence in all networks, online and offline, wire, wireless and postal networks,' said New-York-based DMA president & CEO John A. Greco.

'We want to strengthen every channel and improve the ability of marketers to integrate any and all in one-on-one conversations with customers. We look forward to working together to establish direct marketing here and extend its reach around the world,' he added.
 
With new infrastructure just being built, marketers have a golden opportunity to “get in on the ground floor” and share in a huge expansion of multichannel marketing, Greco said, adding that ADMA will assist members to explore growth opportunities and cost saving benefits in currently untapped markets of Arab geography.

The establishment of the Direct Marketing Park (DMP) in the heart of King Abdullah Economic City was one of the historical announcements of last year forum.

The DMP will serve as a center for the emerging direct marketing process, attracting global players by offering distinct competitive advantages. These advantages include beneficial tax and energy efficiencies, both vital in today’s global economy, Greco said.

ADMA will be setting up its headquarters in the DMP along with the Center for Direct Mail Development, sponsored by the Universal Postal Union of the United Nations.

“The field of marketing is maturing rapidly; we see this first hand with the high demand from our clients for services such as direct mail,” said Hamidaddin, CEO of both Adma and Acxiom Mena.

Hamidaddin is also the founder of Direct Marketing Services (DMS), which was recently acquired by Acxiom, a leader in interactive marketing and infrastructure management.-TradeArabia News Service