Sharjah 24: Over the past decade, the IGCF is much more than a forum to research and evaluate government communications. It delves deep into the core of human relations. Without communication, there would be no relationship between individuals and no shared values or principles - societies would not exist and nations would not rise.

At the opening ceremony of IGCF 2021, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council said: “The development of the human factor which is so essential to nation-building can be achieved by striking the perfect balance between socio-economic progress and intellectual and emotional development. In the eighties of the last century, when the region was undergoing rapid urban development during its post-oil discovery phase, the Ruler of Sharjah focused on building the essential human factor. Since then, the emirate has been on a harmonious development journey with an involved and motivated citizenry as its prime goal.”
 
The Guest of Honour of IGCF 2021, Prince Turki Al Faisal, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, said in his keynote address: “In an era of globalisation of both media and economy, we have become increasingly interconnected. This current ‘closeness’ of the world, which was made more prominent than ever with the outbreak of a global pandemic – one that doesn’t recognise international borders or distinguish between peoples or nations – makes it critical to ensure that we pave a path that leads all humanity towards protection and prosperity. These two are key facets of development that should be viewed not only as an end, but as the means too.”
 
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, said: "IGCF’s launch in 2012 was the outcome of a wise vision and part of deliberate efforts to form an important link in the path of change that we all seek. This development has an important significance as it came shortly after the 2011 crisis that culminated in the ongoing crisis that many countries in the Arab world continue to suffer from even today. The aftermath of these events has provided a motive to reconsider and rethink, since a large part of the problems were caused by a disconnect between governments and its peoples.”
 
For his part, Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that for effective government communication to achieve its objective, it needs to be supported by ethical private media, and stated that the achievement and protection of key national objectives was a collective responsibility. Citing the example of and the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic, he said there was a need for a charter to govern the cyber space to enable readers to sift facts from fake news and false information.
 
Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, pointed out that the 10th edition of the annual forum is being held against the backdrop of a pandemic that has greatly impacted lives, globally. Noting that the crisis had altered realities across the spectrum – in work and education; in life; in entertainment and content industries; and led to fundamental shifts in relationships between individuals and institutions, he emphasised that the fundamental questions arising from these changes will be discussed at IGCF 2021.