Leading economists to address inflation at IGCF 2023 in Sharjah

Amidst the current global economic challenges, the upcoming 12th annual International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) is convening some of the world’s top modern-day economists and academics to address the proverbial elephant in the room, inflation.

Headlined by top economic strategists and business leaders, the discussion session titled ‘Economic Challenges: The Elephant in the Room?’ will be led by prominent economists Dr Raja Al Marzoqi, alongside David Daokui Li, and Professor Fan Gang.

The speakers at the two-day forum taking place in Expo Centre Sharjah on September 13-14, and open for registration through the official website: www.igcc.ae, will address the impact of inflation on societal resources and wealth, underscore the necessity of robust international cooperation to transparently and effectively confront economic hurdles, and offer valuable insights to surmount these challenges.

The most influential voices in economics and monetary policies Dr Raja Al Marzoqi is the GCC Chief Negotiator, the Chief Economic Advisor at the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning, and a Collaborating Expert with the International Monetary Fund. He also held many high-level positions; including spearheading the International Monetary Fund mission to both Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, as well as undertaking the training of parliamentarians and advisory council members in the Middle East and Central Asia region, championing the ‘Economic security for national security’ strategy.

David Daokui Li is a prominent Chinese economist and the Director of the centre for China in the World Economy (CCWE) at Tsinghua University, he was also part of an academic trio that replaced Fan Gang to the Monetary Policy Committee of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Holding esteemed academic positions, Professor Li is renowned for his analytical economic articles published in leading international newspapers.

Prof. Fan Gang is the President of the China Development Institute - one of China’s top 25 national think tanks - and Secretary-General of the China Reform Foundation. He is also Professor of Economics at Peking University. His work includes more than 100 academic research papers published in Chinese and English academic journals and 12 books. He has led research projects commissioned by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and others.

Understanding inflation and other economic challenges is the first step Moderated by Saudi TV presenter Abdullah Al Mudaifer, the discussion will shed light on government strategies that can simplify complex issues like inflation for the public; transparently communicate sensitive economic issues; and list the most positive and effective ways and methods to communicate negative economic news to safeguard citizens from falling prey to negative financial market expectations.

Furthermore, the three experts will examine the impact of inflation on the attractiveness of countries in the global economic landscape and discuss strategies on how to maintain economic relationships with investors and reassure them during challenging economic times. They will also offer guidance on the narrative governments can adopt and types of investments to be attracted on the global stage during periods of inflation.

-Ends- About IGCF 2023: The International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) stands as a key global platform fostering dialogue and discourse among experts and specialists in government communication. In its 12th edition, the forum gathers distinguished speakers from diverse sectors to deliberate on matters vital to global societies and nations. This includes a spectrum of challenges spanning economics, environment, health, society, culture, and politics, while highlighting communication’s pivotal role in addressing and tackling these issues. The forum’s core objectives is to refine government communication paradigms, amplifying collaboration among stakeholders engaged in communication locally, regionally, and internationally.

Separately, the 12th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) announced the signing of a strategic partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), marking a value addition to its list of partners.

The inaugural partnership will provide a unique opportunity for participants to benefit from the expertise, insights, and skills of the specialised institute in advancing the capacities of officials and young professionals in the government communication field as well as future leaders within organisations.

The strategic partnership entails conducting workshops and training courses for young government leaders. These sessions will be inaugurated by Ambassador Marco A. Suazo, Head of UNITAR New York Office and delivered by Guido Bertucci, Executive Director of Governance Solutions International, between September 12-14 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The UNITAR workshops will teach participants how to communicate effectively in a team and develop emotional intelligence to work constructively with others, in addition to a variety of topics that will equip participants with the skills needed for leading positions.

Under the title “Communication for Success for Young Government Leaders”, 30 young government employees will be trained to acquire skills and competencies to communicate effectively during the 3-day training that includes a series of interactive and highly participatory sessions, preceded by two days of reading of background material by the participants.

Lectures will be followed by practice sessions in which participants will have the opportunity to learn and experiment with different techniques and skills and to participate in case study simulations.

Commenting on the partnership, Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, said, “Stemming from its vision to build creative generations, IGCF strives to provide future leaders with comprehensive skill sets that enable them to deal with the challenges of the twenty-first century and advance organisational performance in government institutions and companies. Developing effective communication skills is one of the most important factors to ensure leaders’ success, as it helps manage individuals and teams effectively, solve complex problems creatively, and build valuable relationships both inside and outside the workplace.”

She added, “In a rapid digital communication era, learning how to use modern communication methods innovatively to achieve our goals and messages becomes necessary. It is not easy to possess communication skills and keep up with developments; it requires continuous learning from experts and experienced individuals. Through our partnership with UNITAR, we seek to improve the communication skills of our youth and benefit from the institute’s rich experience.”

Ambassador Marco A. Suazo, Head of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR-NYO), said, “UNITAR is honoured to be able to participate in the 12th edition of the International Government Communication Forum, and to deliver the training on Communication for Success for Young Government Leaders. This event is an important contribution to the government communication field – a field that is experiencing rapid changes, due to the growth of usage in social media, and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence.