A regional marketing forum has launched a direct marketing association as a way to develop and grow direct marketing across the global Pan-Arab community.

The Arab Direct Marketing Association (ADMA) was launched on the opening day of the three-day Arab Direct Mail and Marketing Forum’09, which is running from April 19 to 21 at the Jeddah Hilton.

“In launching the ADMA today, we take an important step toward building a world marketing community, a community that shares common challenges and opportunities, and can work together for the benefit of all,” said John A. Greco, Jr, New York-based Direct Marketing Association (DMA) president and CEO.

“DMA is delighted with our newest affiliate, ADMA,” he added.

“DMA is proud to be part of building what for most companies here will be a totally new approach to marketing,” said Greco, who shared the platform with Emaar CEO Fahd A. Al-Rasheed, ADMA CEO Yousef M. Hamidaddin and Saudi Post vice president for postal operations Sami Al-Owedi.

Hamidaddin is the founder of Direct Marketing Services (DMS) in this part of the world “and his appointment as CEO of ADMA portends great things for the future,” said Greco.

With new infrastructure just being built, marketers have a golden opportunity to “get 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 from Bahrain to Rabat.

The establishment of the Direct Marketing Park (DMP) in the heart of King Abdullah Economic City was also announced at the forum. The DMP will serve as a centre for the emerging direct marketing process in Saudi Arabia, 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 Centre for Direct Mail Development, sponsored by the Universal Postal Union of the UN.

As ADMA grows, and the direct marketing process becomes more accepted and established in this part of the world, Saudi Arabia can look forward to playing a key role in a growing, global marketing community — dedicated to creating value for business and consumers alike, he added.

Greco said DMA would bring its expertise and experience in marketing education, research and market making to this “timely mission” of creating a direct marketing industry in the Arab world.

“DMA’s vision is one of increasing the intelligence in all networks, online and offline — wire, wireless and postal networks,” Greco explained.

“We want to strengthen every channel and improve the ability of marketers to integrate any and all in a one-to-one conversation with a customer. We very much look forward to working together to establish direct marketing here and extend its reach around the world.”

Speakers at the forum’s various sessions said there was a strong case to be made for the direct marketing process, both online and offline in today’s digital multichannel universe.

Direct marketing is the answer because it is effective and highly accountable for marketing expenditures, according to a statement. – TradeArabia News Service