UAE selection at this year's Media Day confirms our success in media, Saqr Ghobash

Geneva - September 28, 2010 (WAM)- UAE Minister of Labour, Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC), Saqr Ghobash has said that selection of UAE as Guest of Honour at this year's Media Day in Geneva shows importance of enormous development pioneered in media sector of the country and its prestigious position in International media forums.
He said in a statement that he was keen on participating, chairing the UAE's delegation to the event, because of its clear indication of the UAE's prestigious position in International media forums under the wise leadership of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Saqr Ghobash noted that the selection of the UAE, by the Swiss Press Club, as Guest of Honour at this year's Media Day reflects the importance of the instructions of H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to expand and update the media, rely on transparency and corporate governance, benefit from the information revolution in the development of media companies' work in the UAE and supplying them with expertise and young Emirati competencies.
The UAE minister pointed out that this selection was not a coincidence, but it came as a result of the huge development in media sector within the UAE, and that the UAE companies in general and the NMC in specific are proud of this honour.
He expressed his satisfaction of honouring the UAE in the city that hosts the headquarters of the Human Rights Council and the International Red Cross, pastor of the Geneva Conventions and the capital of human rights and international law.
Ghobash also assured the NMC's keenness to provide the support needed to accomplish the goals of the UAE Government's strategy, which is related to developing the government sector, especially the excellence in service, customer satisfaction, improving standard of services in the council and performance of employees, developing their abilities, train them and promote quality and excellence culture amongst them.
Regarding the NMC's efforts to Emiratise the media sector, Ghobash said that the NMC has recently formed a committee to follow up the plan of Emiratising the media sector in the UAE. This committee continues its work by holding periodic meetings.
He added that the NMC initiated to gather a million Dirhams to train media people in the UAE in cooperation with a number of specialised media foundations, in addition to coordinating with public and private companies to provide jobs for locals.
Chairman NMC said: "The information revolution has served our plans inside and outside, whereas the NMC's website http://www.uaeinteract.ae has made a quantum leap in the field of spreading information about the country in many different languages, in addition to the Emirates News Agency's website in both Arabic and English, which also provides photographs and TV films." He noted that the NMC is proud of the effective participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai, China, which was praised by media, officials and visitors.
Saqr Ghobash pointed out that UAE believes in the importance of openness to the other and identifying its own culture, heritage and comprehensive development. For that, the UAE participates in the GCC Days hosted yearly by the Cooperation Council for the Arab States, whereas the upcoming event will take place in the UK's Capital, London, during October 2010. – Emirates News Agency, WAM