The Azerbaijan State News Agency

BBC Worldwide to host workshop at IGCF 2017

Baku, March 15, AZERTAC

As part of the sixth International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017), which is set to run from March 22 to 23 at the Expo Centre Sharjah, the BBC will lead a StoryWorks workshop titled ‘Country and City Global Reputation and Its Impact on Economy’ for an audience of high-profile officials from the Government of Sharjah.

Moderated by Richard Pattinson, Senior Vice President, BBC StoryWorks, the global content workshop will amongst other things put forward communication techniques that could help Sharjah to further cement its international reputation, while reaping the economic and social benefits associated with powerful nation branding.

StoryWorks will focus on case studies of countries and cities media communication strategies from around the world that enjoy a solid reputation as a result of their media strategy in order to draw lessons and best practices that can be applied to Sharjah.

Commending the Government of Sharjah for its forward-thinking approach, Tariq Saeed Allay, Director, Sharjah Government Media Bureau, said: “This is a crucial step that will enable the emirate of Sharjah to better communicate and reflect the aspirations of our visionary leaders. The most dynamic and economically robust countries and cities have strong, well-defined brands. Such nation-branding strategies have proven to significantly boost tourist footfall, foreign direct investments and trade, besides drawing skilled knowledge workers and international human capital.”

He added: “Given the economic slowdown witnessed around the world in recent years, the challenge of national economic development has gone beyond the confines of public policy. It is therefore now more than ever essential that we analyze and monitor threats and opportunities for growth. Above all, StoryWorks will allow us to ensure that all of Sharjah’s strengths are strategically channeled into a well-executed long-term global communication plan that serves as an invaluable resource for the emirate’s continued success.”

Under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, IGCF 2017 will convene more than 100 speakers and participants, and draw the participation of more than 150 International delegations, as well as 200 regional and global government communication experts, while the attendees of the sixth edition of IGCF are expected to reach 3000 attendees.

Under the theme ‘Societal Participation…Comprehensive Development’, the definitive international forum will examine ways of utilising government communication to serve the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), which have become the top priority of government programmes, international institutions, media organisations and civil society.

Launched in 2012 in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, the International Government Communication Forum is designed to showcase global best practices in government communication and enhance the performance of governments through improving their communication with citizens.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Bulgaria's RSV 421 sets sail from Antalya for Antarctica

Resilient cities and built environment in spotlight at COP31

® Trendyol reports sustainability progress and announces updated 2030 targets

First Lady of Uzbekistan proposes key initiatives at high-level meeting marking launch of Global Zero Waste Alliance

Hyrcanian Forests – A million-year-old wonder of nature VIDEO

Hyrcanian Forests – A million-year-old wonder of nature VIDEO

Top stories update

Cevdet Yılmaz: No force can undermine Azerbaijan-Türkiye brotherhood

Türkiye fight to stay afloat in Nations League against Belgium

From screen to discovery: Azerbaijan’s VIVANT partnership builds new connections with Japan

Azerbaijan’s Deputy PM: Azerbaijan advanced inclusive process during its COP29 Presidency

Researchers develop blood test to detect early-stage breast cancer, predict recurrence

Oil prices decline on global markets

Gold and silver prices decline on global markets

Azerbaijani chess player becomes European champion with phenomenal result

Azeri Light sells for $100

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva shared post on Constitution Day

German authorities decided to create strategic gas reserves

G7 foreign ministers discuss air defense, long-range weapons supplies to Ukraine

Post marking Constitution Day shared on President Ilham Aliyev's social media accounts

Uzbekistan proposes Central Asian climate integration model to address regional challenges

Azerbaijan Metrology Institute joins International Atomic Energy Agency project

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Netherlands presents copy of credentials to King Willem-Alexander

Azerbaijan strengthens academic ties with Hong Kong’s prestigious universities

CSTO strips Armenia of voting rights over failure to meet obligations: Kremlin

World at 'global tipping point' as Hormuz energy disruption shakes markets, climate targets at risk: EU

Leyla Aliyeva attends “Global Zero Waste Alliance - High-Level Meeting of Spouses of Heads of State and Government”

Caucasus Muslims Office condemns event held at Blue Mosque in Iravan

Azerbaijan House in German city of Stuttgart hosts event marking Victory Day

IDEA organizes tree-planting campaign in Gobustan

Azerbaijan offers condolences to Poland over tragedy in Kraków

Leyla Aliyeva visits Azerbaijan pavilion at COP31

New edition of IRS-Heritage magazine published in Moscow

Moscow says Russia, Ukraine 'agree in principle' on prisoner exchange

President Ilham Aliyev’s social media accounts shared video on COP31 Leaders’ Summit VIDEO

Azerbaijani judoka crowned European champion in Baku

President Ilham Aliyev concluded his visit to Türkiye VIDEO

OPEC crude production rises by nearly 2 million bpd in October

Azerbaijan, Georgia discuss regional cooperation

COP31 hosts screening of “Deadly Legacy” documentary commissioned by Garabagh Revival Fund

Azerbaijan and Ghana explore enhancing agricultural cooperation

Turkish president urges developed nations to take greater responsibility for climate finance, emissions cuts

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended COP31 Leaders’ Summit VIDEO

® Azercell supports next generation of women in ICT

Heydar Aliyev Foundation represented with a pavilion at COP31

Turkish President thanks Azerbaijan and Brazil for sharing their expertise in hosting climate summits

Azerbaijan, China discuss implementation of joint educational projects

UN committee adopts Azerbaijan-initiated resolution on “Missing Persons”

Planet cannot be left at 'mercy of hegemonic struggles,' Brazilian President Lula tells COP31

UN chief calls for new 'Climate Justice Compact' to cope with climate change

Starlink Mini 2 adds a swappable battery

Bomb threat at dozens of schools in Italy following anonymous email

4.5 magnitude earthquake rattles Israel’s Eilat

6 crew members missing after oil tank sinks: Thai navy

One person injured after tractor strikes landmine in Khojavend

Azerbaijani wrestlers win eight medals in Kazakhstan

Forbes senior contributor: Azerbaijan's growing gas exports strengthen its role in Europe's energy security [VIDEO]

Analyst: European partners sharing technical expertise with Azerbaijan can help improve energy infrastructure

Elections held for Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Poland

Azerbaijan`s Victory Day marked in Denmark

Scientists find some of world's last untouched ocean ecosystems

Azerbaijan’s strategic currency reserves on rise

Azerbaijani Energy Minister holds bilateral meetings on sidelines of COP31

Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister meets with Vestas, ACWA Power and NKT officials during COP31

Hijack threat reported against Mumbai-bound Air India aircraft

Japan top court rules 2025 upper house vote gap in unconstitutional state

Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrated in Aktau

Azerbaijan’s foreign trade turnover reaches $38.9 billion in January–September

Azerbaijan's GDP grows by 1.7 percent

Three more memorandums signed on implementation of ASAN Khidmet model

Energy transition discussed at Azerbaijan’s pavilion at COP31

ADY reports record freight transportation growth in January–October 2026

Top stories update

Toyota to launch Kei-01 light truck in U.S.

Several injured as train derails in northeast India

Israeli study points to new possibilities for tissue engineering

COP31 continued in Antalya

Day of National Mourning in Bulgaria for Victims of tragic pile-ups on Trakia Motorway

Bishkek to host international investment forum BIF2026

Azerbaijani delegation joins official COP31 events in Antalya

To Her Excellency Ms. Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria

UN Women says over 1.5B women, girls live in climate hotspots worldwide

At least 57 injured after bus crashes into dozens of vehicles in South Korea

Gold and silver prices surge on global markets

Oil prices rise on global markets

Azeri Light sells for $99

Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrated in Estonia

Azerbaijan’s low-carbon hydrogen sector development discussed at COP31

Zelenskyy calls trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi 'constructive and substantive'

Parviz Shahbazov: We are turning COP29’s grid agenda into concrete projects that connect countries and markets

Top stories update

President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Türkiye for visit VIDEO

Azerbaijan, WHO co-host high-level roundtable on advancing health in global climate agenda at COP31

1st day of US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi ends

Türkiye plans $300B in energy transition investment by 2040, energy minister says at COP31

Turkish Vice President visits Azerbaijan pavilion at COP31

Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister calls for parallel development of power generation, grids, and storage at COP31

US, Ukraine, and European partners agree to move toward broader multilateral talks on ending war

Garabagh Revival Fund spotlights global landmine issue at COP31 in Antalya

Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia and Bulgaria sign Agreement on Strategic Partnership in Clean Energy in Antalya

Azerbaijani FM presents Order of Friendship to Serbian ambassador