Abu Dhabi, November 19: Abu Dhabi will be the venue for an unprecedented gathering of global media leaders the Abu Dhabi Media Summit it was announced today by Mohammed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei, Edward Borgerding; Chairman and CEO respectively of the Abu Dhabi Media Company and Rupert Murdoch; President and CEO of News Corporation and a co Chairman of the Media Summit, at a press conference at the Yas Marina Circuit Media Centre.
The invitation only inaugural Summit, under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, will be held at the Yas Hotel March 9-12, 2010.
The three day summit has been created by the Abu Dhabi Media Company and leading Abu Dhabi partners, including the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Aldar, Etihad Airways, Mubadala, and twofour54.
The summit will feature a unique combination of high-profile public sessions, closed-door discussions and private conversations, bringing together top tier global media players and their counterparts in fast growing markets.
Targeted sectors include mobile, broadband, traditional television, print, entertainment, news, music, advertising & marketing, venture capital & equity finance, with special emphasis on markets in the Middle East, the Subcontinent, East Asia and China.
Mazrouei, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Media Company, commented:
Abu Dhabi is fast becoming an international hub for business, innovation, architecture, sporting events, culture and media. The creative industries play a key role in the longer term economic strategy of our city, as we embrace a diversified economic role.
The inaugural Media Summit marks a parameter shift in the region’s media status. The MENA region has one of the highest percentages of youth in the world, and one of the fastest-growing internet penetration rates.
This will lead to an exponential increase in demand for Arabic content, both in the UAE and across the region. Abu Dhabi is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this demand, and its fast developing media industry is a direct consequence of increased long-term strategic investment across the sector.
This growth is reflected by such developments as the creation of twofour54 and the recent influx of global media players announcing expansion into the UAE plus substantial investment in associated creative and technological industries, and education. The Abu Dhabi Media Company has played a key role throughout, reflected in the city s growing influence as a global media hub, acting as an information confluence with both East and West.
The Summit s agenda will be driven by a unique group of co chairs, ed for their pre-eminence in shaping the new global media landscape.
The list of confirmed ADMS 2010 co chairs includes:
� Tim Armstrong, CEO, AOL
� Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft
� Lee Seok Chae, Chairman, KT Corporation
� Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman & CEO, Innovation Works
� Maurice L�vy, Chairman, PublicisGroupe
� Didier Lombard, Chairman, Orange France Telecom
� Kishore Lulla, Chairman & CEO, Eros International
� Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman & CEO, Bharti Enterprises
� Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, News Corporation
� Dr. Prannoy Roy, Executive Chairperson, NDTV
Summit Co Chair Rupert Murdoch, President and Chairman of News Corporation joined the event, by video link, saying: “The Abu Dhabi Media Summit is set to become a tremendous meeting of the minds. I can’t think of a better place to be talking about the future of media. Abu Dhabi sits at the nexus – of East & West, of developing & developed, of our media present and our future.”
Borgerding added: “We are honoured to announce our inaugural list of co chairs an unparalleled group of the world s media leaders. The media industry has a role to play in creating an international dialogue, bringing together different mindsets to promote new solutions to society s challenges. Our goal is to better understand the huge changes wrought by the digital revolution in order to employ media to communicate, inform and entertain for a better world.”
Karim Sabbagh, Vice President and Global Practice Leader for the Communications, Media & Technology of Booz & Company, the event’s knowledge partner, stressed the growing importance of the region in opportunities of shaping of the new global architecture.
“The growth potential of global media access is simply incredible. The rapid social and economic development that regional economies are witnessing is creating ubiquitously connected communities with one of the strongest level of media consumption in the world. ADMC is playing a central role in creating opportunities for 21st century media players serving our region. The Summit’s scope and ambition are world class,” Sabbagh said.
—Agencies