First Middle East publishing conference draws international executives to Dubai

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This event is one of the largest specialised publishing conferences ever held in the Middle East, gathering the world's two largest associations for newspapers and magazines - the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the world magazine publishers association FIPP.

The conference is organised by WAN and FIPP in conjunction with the Dubai Consultancy, Research and Media Centre (DCRMC), the International Media Production Zone in Dubai (iMPZ), and Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) through its Al-Bayan daily.

The inaugural conference brings together leading newspaper and magazine executives from around the world and will address the opportunities and challenges of the regional publishing environment as seen through the eyes of the global publishing community.

During a media conference held today at the Knowledge Village in Dubai, attended by the presidents of the two global organisations; Mohammed Binghalib, director of iMPZ, and Ahmed Al Mansoori, president of DCRMC;
Binghalib announced a new initiative launching the Publishing Pavilion within the iMPZ.

This new project will form a comprehensive zone occupying one million square feet and dedicated entirely to publishing activities and companies and establishments working within the industry, as part of the International Media Production Zone that spearheads Dubai's status in global publishing.

Binghalib explained that the project will include the construction of 14 multi-storey buildings of different sizes as well as various sites that publishing companies can lease or rent for long periods to develop their own properties to suit their individual needs.

The new zone will accommodate different establishments representing all aspects of the publishing industry.

Binghalib stressed that the new project formed part of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and aims to boost the profile of the UAE as a media hub, regionally and internationally.

This vision is being translated into reality by providing the solid infrastructure that meets the different demands of media and the media industry by providing them with the space to grow and flourish.

Supporting the MEPC and related initiatives contributed to creating a better environment to allow the media to grow in all its diversity and to raise standards of efficiency and quality.

Binghalib added that iMPZ, the first free zone of its kind in the world dedicated entirely to media activities, offers many advantages and economic benefits for the establishments setting up within the zone by giving them full ownership of their projects, free of tax and customs tariffs in addition to world-standard infrastructure.

Proximity to seaports, airports and the freeway network gives operating companies ease of access to global markets and complete flexibility, especially with the announcement of the new airport development at neighbouring Jebel Ali Free Zone that will have annual cargo capacity of about 12 million tons.

Timothy Balding, Director General of the Paris-based WAN, said: 'This conference will provide press executives in the region with many new
and profitable ideas to improve their services to readers and advertisers. We hope it will give a new boost to Middle East publishing, which continues to develop.'

Donald D. Kummerfeld, the President and CEO of the International Federation of the Periodical Press, said: 'We believe that there will be great and continuing growth in magazine publishing in the Middle East in the coming
years and we hope to encourage and promote this process by sharing some of the lessons that we have learned about successful magazine publishing in other countries, both inside and outside the region.'

Ahmed Al Mansoori, President of the Dubai Consultancy, Research & Media Centre, said: 'We are particularly pleased that iMPZ are announcing the launch of the 'Publishing Pavilion' as we hold the first session of MEPC. For us, this is a great sign that we are realising that physical infrastructure is not the only kind of infrastructure that we need to establish a healthy and strong publishing industry.

'MEPC will address issues pertaining to the publishing standards, culture and environment. We are excited that this event will be the perfect cross-road for establishing an industry that is proud of its standards and ethics as it is of its unrivalled infrastructure.'

WAN and FIPP are responsible for the international component of the conference, which will be attended by more than 300 delegates who will hear from some of the top newspaper executives from the region and around the world.

Speakers from outside the region include: Gavin O'Reilly, COO of the International Media Group Independent News & Media and incoming President of WAN; John Alexander, CEO of PBL Media, one of Australia's largest diversified media and entertainment companies; Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief of India Today Group, one of India's largest media conglomerates; Hanzade Dogan, CEO of Turkey's largest newspaper Milliyet: and Peter Emod, Managing Director of Distripress, the Association for the Promotion of the International Circulation of the Press.

The level of speakers is matched by the calibre of attendance - underlining the great success of the event.

More than 60 media and publishing organisations from 52 countries will be represented - including The Economist, Time, BBC, National Geographic, and Conde Nast.

In addition to providing presentations and workshops on media management, technological developments, editorial issues and more, the conference will introduce several new initiatives.

Among them are the establishment of the UAE Publishing Association and the launch of the Middle East Annual Publishing Awards. The MEPC will also launch the Middle East Publishing Forum which will be an ongoing part of the conference online activities.