Two parallel training workshops for members of the media and government communication professionals will be a part of the agenda at a leading forum in Sharjah this month.

The International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2014), which is being organised by the Sharjah Media Centre, will be held at the Expo Centre Sharjah from February 22 to 24, under the theme ‘Different Roles…Mutual Interest’.

It will bring together 25 regional and international professionals from the government, private and media sector.

The workshops on the first day will be titled ‘Social Media in a Changing World’ and ‘The Changing Role of Government Communications.’

The sessions on the second day will include ‘Role of government communications and reputation management in attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI),’ and ‘The relationship between government communication and social media activists,’ which will be wrapped up by renowned television personality Nik Gowing, who will showcase ‘Acute vulnerabilities of power, politics and systems in the new public information space.’

The final day will comprise a debate session titled ‘How are government visions developed?’ and a discussion on ‘What the public sector can learn from the communication experiences of the private sector?’

A live one-on-one session entitled ‘Internal communication between departments/ministries of the state’ will offer a real-life case study by Alastair Campbell, director of Communications and Strategy for former Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997 and 2003).

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said: "All governments around the world, without exception, face varied challenges in communicating with the public. The reasons are largely attributed to the change in communication methods and the emergence of new, diverse and fast-growing mediums to express and share ideas. This natural evolution of communication techniques makes it imperative for governments to explore and understand new methods.”

The IGCF seeks to draw out the perspectives of concerned stakeholders as a step towards initiating practical action for developing a region-specific communication strategy, he added.

Osama Samra, director of SMC, said: "The theme for this year emerges from IGCF’s overall vision and is based on the recommendations and outcomes of last year’s forum. IGCF 2014 is aligned with our ongoing efforts to develop government communications mechanisms for the benefit of public sector organisations in the UAE and wider region."

New modules have been introduced this year to create direct communication channels between the participants and the IGCF, allowing greater thought-sharing and transfer of best practices. The participants can put down their queries and suggestions either on a handwritten note that is placed on a dedicated wall, or via an online application, or through a streamed video link using a booth specially made for this purpose. - TradeArabia News Service