Gulf Economic Media Forum to showcase media’s role in enhancing greater co-operation among GCC economies

The media’s role in enhancing greater co-operation among economic sectors of the GCC countries will be on the spotlight at the ‘Gulf Economic Media Forum 2023’ that will be held in Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia today.Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, Governor of Al-Ahsa, is sponsoring the Forum, which is organised by Al-Ahsa Chamber.Gulf Timeseditor-in-chief and CEO of Qatar Press Centre, Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka is addressing sessions at the forum that will be attended by numerous Saudi and Gulf economic journalists and media consultants.The forum, which is being held within the ambit of the Al-Ahsa Forum 2023, discusses the close relationship between the economy and investment across various fields and the role of media in promoting it.The media has a key role to play in highlighting the elements, comparative advantages and promising opportunities, pushing efforts and initiatives to attract investments and promoting development.The forum will also lay focus on media’s role in promoting economic activities and learning about pioneering media experiences.Abdulaziz Saleh al-Mousa, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al-Ahsa Chamber said, "The forum comes within the framework of the Al-Ahsa Forum 2023, which is organised by the Chamber in co-operation with the strategic partner Aramco, under the generous patronage of Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Region on February 15 and 16 in support of the forum’s vision and achieving its goals.Also, the forum seeks to enhance the media’s involvement in promoting economic activities, highlighting the components and comparative advantage of Al-Ahsa and attracting investments.”Al-Mousa appreciated the generous sponsorship of the Governor of Al-Ahsa for the forum, stressing the importance of enhancing the role and participation of economic media in organising economic events and keeping pace with developmental activities.Equally important is supporting the media in the process of stimulating growth and developing its interaction capabilities and response to various challenges, within the framework of accelerating the pace of economic transformation and achieving sustainable development.Al-Mousa explained that the forum would have the presence of high-profile personalities and dwell on three main sessions – ‘media and development’, ‘economic media’ and ‘pioneering media experiences’.Participants in the first session on media and development include Barakat al-Waqyan, Kuwaiti media personality; Bayna al-Mulhim, Saudi media advisor, and Ahmed al-Shezawi, Omani media personality.It will be moderated by Saudi journalist Salah al-Ghaidan.The second session on ‘economic media’ will be addressed by Gulf TimesEditor-in-Chief and CEO of Qatar Press Centre, Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka; Dr Ihsan Buhulaika, prominent Saudi economic advisor and writer; Dr Saad bin Childa al-Ajmi, Kuwaiti writer and academic; and Khalfan al-Touqi, Omani writer and economic analyst.The Saudi media session will be moderated by Taghreed al-Huwaish.In the third and final session, titled ‘Pioneering media experiences”, speakers include Ali Subkar, president, Global Club for Social Media; Abdel Wahhab al-Fayez, prominent Saudi writer and journalist; and Mohamed al-Hammadi, president, Emirates Journalists Association and assistant president of the General Federation of Arab Journalists.It is noteworthy that the forum aims to emphasise the importance of this type of media, which plays a vital role in building societies with emerging economies aspiring to play a global role, raising economic awareness and promoting investment culture.The forum is held in co-operation with the Bahrain Public Relations Association.