Today's Edition
AMEINAH AL ZEYOUDI (Abu Dhabi) - Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the second edition of the Global Media Congress 2023 is set to launch in Abu Dhabi next week.
This event is poised to witness extensive international participation, making it a hallmark gathering for major global media companies, industry experts, and decision-makers from around the world.
The second edition of the Global Media Congress boasts remarkable growth compared to its inaugural edition, with notable milestones including: a 33% increase in the number of exhibiting companies and brands, totaling 257 brands; a 22% surge in the number of participating countries, with representation from 172 nations; 31 countries participating in the event for the first time; and a 78% increase in the total exhibition area, exceeding 32,000 square metres, compared to the previous edition's 18,000 square meters.
Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Global Media Congress, highlighted the Congress's strategic partnerships and its enhanced global media network, which promises to provide participants with unparalleled value. Al Rayssi said: "In anticipation of the Global Media Congress's second edition, we've strengthened our global media network through strategic partnerships following our first session. These collaborations are poised to enhance this year's congress, offering participants unparalleled value."
"In conjunction with COP28, our Congress's opening day will spotlight the pivotal role of environmental media in sustainability and climate advocacy. Day two shifts focus to media education, with a special emphasis on youth engagement. We're excited to welcome students from 100 universities, equipping them to shape the media landscape.
We're also launching the Education Stage and Co-Production Majlis, alongside the Innovation Stage, NexTech, and Future Media Lab, to explore the nexus of media, education, and Al as we navigate the industry's evolution," he added.
Al Rayssi expressed his pride in the record-breaking interest shown by companies, decision-makers, and experts from all over the world in participating in the second edition of the Congress, noting that such interest reflects the trust and professional credibility that the event enjoys despite its recent inception.
He also highlighted the significant contribution of the Congress in creating a supportive and innovative environment for building new partnerships between companies and entrepreneurs worldwide. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of ADNEC Group, highlighted the Congress's alignment with ADNEC Group's strategic objectives in supporting diverse economic and knowledge sectors in the country.
He underlined the importance of the media industry in this strategy, confirming Abu Dhabi's status as a hub for exhibitions and specialised conferences in the region.
Al Dhaheri stated: "Organising the Global Media Congress aligns with ADNEC Group's strategy to support a wide range of economic and knowledge sectors in the country in line with the aspirations of our wise leadership for the next fifty years, with the media industry being one of its main pillars."
"The exhibition's mission aligns with our vision to enhance the direct and indirect economic contributions of these vital sectors to the country's economy and confirm the position of Abu Dhabi as the capital of exhibitions and specialised conferences industry in the region," he added.
Al Dhaheri noted that the record-breaking interest in the second edition is a testimony to the success of this policy and an effective translation of the aspirations of the wise leadership into reality; noting that the second edition of the Congress is witnessing high interest from the part of prominent worldwide specialised media companies.
The significant interest and participation from media companies, decision-makers, and experts worldwide reflect the event's success in creating an innovative and supportive environment for forging new partnerships between companies and entrepreneurs on a global scale. The event introduces a dedicated Council - "Majlis" - to facilitate communication and knowledge sharing among industry leaders, production companies, and content technology innovators.
Over 400 top industry players from around the world are expected to take part in this exclusive space, exploring opportunities for collaborative production and partnerships in the media sector. The Congress will also host a specialised three-day conference, which is set to feature 77 speakers representing key players in the media industry from 18 countries.
With a theme centred on "Shaping the Future of the Media Industry," the conference will feature 36 main sessions, addressing topics such as sustainability, innovation, cutting-edge technologies in the media sector, sports media, youth engagement, and the role of training and development in shaping the future of the media industry.
The Congress will also include five associated events, some of which are being held for the first time. Most prominently, the Innovative and Startups Stage will feature more than 24 startups, with national companies accounting for 36% of the participating startups.
This Stage offers companies the opportunity to showcase new technologies and ideas in the sector to a wide range of relevant institutions and decision-makers. The second platform will focus on training and education, with more than 30 training workshops featuring 40 trainees each to be held, supervised by 25 international experts and institutions specialised in the sector.
This platform aims to enhance participants' skills in sustainability, sports broadcasting, and artificial intelligence. Under the Future of Media Labs platform, the third event will attract top executives in the sector, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from around the world.
This platform will include six closed sessions aimed at exchanging and developing ideas that will drive the media sector forward. The fourth platform, the "Innovation in the Influencers' Sector", will provide a creative space for content developers to interact, collaborate, and share their insights and experiences with emerging influencers through 21 dialogue sessions featuring 19 speakers.
The fifth platform will host four sessions and roundtable discussions regarding new media, featuring the participation of 32 experts and speakers, who will address the challenges and opportunities in the sector in the presence of a group of creative talents and decision-makers from various media sectors worldwide.
The Global Media Congress has garnered significant media coverage compared to the previous edition, with nearly 800 journalists from 58 countries, marking an 8% increase.
This showcases the growing regional and international importance of the Congress regionally and its significant role in advancing the media sector. The second edition of the Global Media Congress promises to be a global gathering of unparalleled significance, shaping the future of the media industry and fostering collaboration on a scale never seen before.
