The National Media Council and the Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday at NMC headquarters.
The MoU aims to set the conditions for the joint cooperation to assure the utmost benefits are derived from the sharing of the two sides' expertise. Also, the memo outlines providing support and covering the activities of the International Government Communication Forum, as well as following up using mass communications and social media.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Centre, along with Ibrahim Al Abed, NMC Director General, signed the MoU.
At the signing, Sheikh Sultan said, "Signing the MoU came in light of our keenness to support and enhance the existing strategic partnership between the two sides, and to actively leverage this cooperation to boost joint cooperation.
"It also aims to achieve integration among government communication systems, which includes various official departments in the country and in the Emirate of Sharjah," he added.
Further, SMC's chairman noted, "At this stage, we focus on putting in place all factors to assure success for the 4th edition of the International Government Communication Forum and the 2nd edition of the 'Sharjah Prize for Government Communication'. Our cooperation with a pioneering media outlet, the Emirates News Agency, WAM, would contribute to the spreading of the forum's agenda through its participants, who are deemed pioneers in the government communication field, along with journalists and politicians." Al Abed affirmed the NMC and WAM's keenness to develop media tasks, along with the national government communication system, through providing support to cover official events across the country.
Al Abed pointed out the vital role played by WAM, since its establishment in 1977, to reflect the cultural image of the UAE outside the country through its membership in the GCC system, the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) and the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA).
He also indicated that the inked MoU enhances ways to benefit the joint expertise between the two sides, pointing out that WAM will work on distributing news, preparing reports and delivering them to national and international mass communications, which covers the activities of the International Government Communication Forum and the 'Sharjah Prize for Government Communication.' The NMC Director General praised the strategic partnership with the Sharjah Media Centre, indicating that the centre is considered to have one of the most important communication departments in the country and the region, adding that it has become a pioneer in the field of developing government communication systems, as well as recognising its role in supporting mechanisms of promoting government communication in the region.
The parties also agreed to establish a headquarters for WAM at the event's location, so it might distribute the latest developments from the event. It will further provide the necessary logistical support, data and information to be included in WAM's news and reports.
Source: WAM