Media development conference for Abu Dhabi

"Newspapers in the Middle East area are some of the most dynamic in the world in terms of their adaptation of new business models, cross-media strategies and advanced printing technologies," says Ifra CEO Reiner Mittelbach.

"Because of the extremely high levels of activity and interest we have seen in this region, Ifra has agreed to commit considerable resources to support these publishers in their efforts over the coming years. I am certain that the entire Ifra global community of newspapers and industry suppliers will benefit from what we can learn, what we can teach, and the cooperations we can achieve here."

Ifra is one of the world's leading associations for newspaper and media publishing, with more than 3000 members in nearly 80 countries. Since the first Ifra-facilitated Middle East conference in 2005, an increasing number of newspapers in the region have joined Ifra's international publishing community. Fifteen of the most significant publishing houses in the region have also formed an Ifra Middle East committee to guide the association's activities in the area.

Ziad Tuéni, CEO of Cooperative Printing Company S.A.L., Lebanon and also currently chairman of the Ifra Middle East committee, will chair the two-day programme:

• Session 1 of the event focuses on strategy and business. It features a keynote address on "Newspaper Strategies for the Future" from internationally renowned media adviser Jim Chisholm, who is one of the principals in the newly formed Ifra consultancy partnership iMedia. The sessions also feature case studies from both the Middle East and Europe.
  
• Session 2 on "Printing for Profit" covers a range of issues from new business models for printers, to cost reductions and waste management, to semi-commercial printing.
  
• The final Session 3 on "Multiple-Media Strategies" again taps into Ifra's worldwide membership to bring in a range of case studies on convergence, new formats and cross-media advertising strategies.

The second annual Ifra Middle East conference will be conducted at Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers in Abu Dhabi. Emirates Media is supporting organisation of the event and will host the gala dinner the night of 28 November. The location was selected following an invitation from officials at Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Media. A detailed conference programme and online registration are available at www.ifra.com/events.