JEDDAH, 20 November 2005 — Major Saudi companies are sponsoring the first dedicated Public Relations Forum scheduled for two days from Nov. 28. The venue is the Jeddah Hilton.
Saudi Aramco, Al Hanoo Holding Company, Al Baik Food Systems, Savola Group and Saudi Arabian Airlines have all pledged support, the organizing committee of PR Forum 2005 announced yesterday.
All five companies are major supporters and advocates of the PR industry; they augment corporate communications and launch innovative programs and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The Arab Conferences Company (ARC) is organizing the PR Forum 2005 in association with the International Public Relations Association-Gulf Chapter, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jeddah Marketing Board, the Supreme Commission for Tourism, and Saudi Creative Communication Services (SACCS).
“We’re delighted that the Kingdom’s leading organizations have taken the lead in supporting PR Forum 2005,” ARC Managing Director Mohamed Al-Ayed said. “The overwhelming support the forum has received from the outstanding organizations represents gargantuan support for the forum and the industry as a whole and will help it in achieving our mutual goals. As our partners, we’re confident that the forum will be a pivotal step forward in fostering a dynamic indigenous PR industry in the Kingdom,” Al-Ayed said, adding that the initiative in supporting the forum highlights the maturity that the PR industry has attained in the Kingdom.
Themed “Activation & Interaction,” the forum aims to activate various PR initiatives and increase awareness of its instrumental role in the Kingdom while simultaneously increasing interaction with the community.
The two-day meet, which is expected to draw more than 300 practitioners including prominent PR experts, academics and specialists in the industry will address key issues regarding the role of PR in the business and corporate world while highlighting the fact that the practice of PR is now playing a vital and leading role in various government and private sector companies.
The forum also aims to develop the practice of PR and create further awareness of its importance and the challenges it faces vis-à-vis globalization. Four interactive working sessions will accompany the forum.
The conference will be in Arabic and will address key issues regarding the role of PR in the business and corporate world while highlighting the fact that the practice of PR is now playing a vital and leading role in various government agencies and private sector companies. The conference also aims to set the caliber of conferences that help the region in training and qualifying the coming generations with the necessary expertise.
The conference and working session will examine the role of PR in both the private and public sectors, corporate social responsibility and building local PR practices and suggest ways in which companies in the Kingdom can improve their social and corporate performance thereby increasing brand awareness, customer loyalty and competitiveness via PR.
The organizing committee has announced that delegates can now register in one of five ways — telephone, fax, e-mail, mail, and the Internet at www.arcme.net/prforum2005.html. Delegates can follow the easy steps indicated on the website and an acknowledgment of registration and/or confirmation will be sent within 24 hours.
