21 March 2006
Dubai: More than 2,000 professionals from 70 countries have gathered in Dubai to participate in the 40th International Advertising Association World Congress, its largest gathering, that began last night.
The four-day event will be addressed by some of the world's leading creative professionals who will share their wealth of knowledge.
High-profile participants include the Who's Who in advertisement, a $400 billion industry.
Meanwhile, the power of advertising to do good and influence public opinion for the better will be showcased during a special exhibition being held as part of the Congress at the Dubai International Convention Centre.
The 'ACT Responsible Exhibition: Great Ads for a Better Future,' showcases more than 350 ad campaigns from 37 countries on five continents all focused on the theme of sustainable development and global solidarity.
The exhibition covers three main themes Taking Care of our Planet, Taking Care of Others, and Taking Care of Yourself and includes posters, print advertisements and television spots.
With concerns about economic, social and environmental development reaching fever pitch around the world, advertising professionals are increasingly being called on to motivate, inform and alert public opinion to issues as diverse as electronic waste, biodiversity and poverty.
"Advertising is often dismissed as being only a driver of wanton consumption, but this exhibition proves that advertising can be just as powerful a force for good and for positive change," said Tanvir Kanji, president of the IAA-UAE chapter.
"We are proud to host this exhibition here in Dubai, and hope that the message behind these different campaigns will percolate through the industry and larger society here."
Profiles of professionals
Jose Maria Aznar, former Spanish Prime Minister, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Excutive of Emirates Group, Michael Heseltine, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, leads a high-profile panel of speakers at the 40th IAA World Congress.
Jack Klues, Chairman, Publicis Groupe Media
He sits atop two of the most powerful media services networks in the world: Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) and ZenithOptimedia (ZO). Klues invested early in a broad spectrum of contact specialties designed to forge new paths to the consumer and create new connections between brands and the people who buy them.
Gregory Lee, Corporate Senior VP & CMO, Samsung Electronics
He leads the Global Marketing Operations Group and is responsible for corporate brand and marketing management, regional and product strategies. Prior to Samsung, he was the President of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, head of Marketing and Sales for Johnson & Johnson.
By Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
