The 12th World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Middle East Conference kicks off today in Dubai. The two-day conference was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Dubai Production City (DPC).

This is the first time that WAN-IFRA is partnering with an external organization to co-host the conference.

Underlining DPC’s commitment to leading the media production and publishing industry in his welcome address, Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Production City said, “Driven by an increasing youth population of nearly 50 percent in the region and an ever-changing digital user behavior that makes this demographic no longer passive users but rather active producers of content, Dubai has envisioned the evolution of the media production industry for the years to come. Dubai Production City recognizes the importance of leveraging emerging opportunities and aims to transform its diverse business communities into a vibrant hub that seamlessly integrates the digitalization of the sector. In fact, cutting-edge innovation and digital transformations lie at the heart of our growth strategy across the board.”

“Emphasizing on the evolution of the printing industry, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced last year that 25% of all buildings in Dubai would be 3D-printed by 2030. This mandate further highlights the incredible speed of development in the printing and publishing sector, particularly in Dubai. Our partnership with WAN-IFRA Middle East Conference reiterates our commitment to adopting global industry best practices and leading the change in this dynamic sector,” he added.

About his participation in a panel discussion on day two, the Managing Director of DPC said, “Innovation-led business communities around the world have a clear responsibility to become key enablers for our industries through creating business-friendly environments that boost growth prospects and focus on seizing new opportunities in the digital age.”

The 12th WAN-IFRA Middle East Conference aims to provide publishing executives with an opportunity to discover the latest in regional and international industry trends and best-practice ideas. A key objective of facilitating the conference is to attract, foster and empower young innovative talent in the region and highlight the industry’s readiness to embrace and implement Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to drive a new kind of media that responds to the needs of changing consumer patterns.

Over the course of two days, the event seeks to facilitate engaging and thought-provoking sessions that provide attendees with valuable insights into the industry’s key trends as well as the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.