Emirates Radio Network will launch a number of radio channels in several languages early next year, and additional channels will be added in 2007.
Emirates Media Inc's existing channels, Radio 1 and Radio 2, will also be revamped under a memorandum of understanding signed by Emirates Media Inc with Al Nisr Publishing to set up the integrated radio network.
Ahmad Ali Al Beloushi, EMI director, said the memorandum represents the first step in the partnership between Al Nisr Publishing and EMI.
He said that cooperation between Al Nisr Publishing and EMI will extend to other fields and will give rise to other projects.
Stating that there is a lack of cooperation between local media companies, he said: "We would like to be a pioneer and the vanguard of other local media establishments." He expressed hope for greater cooperation between the two establishments in the media sector.
Al Beloushi called on national media companies to set up a mechanism for cooperation, stressing that fierce competition between media corporations at the regional level is imminent.
"This might make local media corporations less effective while conveying their messages. Hence, cooperation is imperative," he said.
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Managing Director of Al Nisr Publishing, thanked Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture, for sponsoring and supporting the new partnership between Al Nisr Publishing and EMI.
"We are very pleased to sign the memorandum, and wish it to be a good omen for more cooperation between the two media foundations," he said. Al Tayer said by signing the memorandum, Al Nisr Publishing is entering a new avenue and is looking forward to exploring other spheres in the media to offer quality services to the UAE.
"We hope the memorandum fulfils the ambitions of the partners to convey the UAE media's message."
He said the advancement of nations is measured by the quality of their media.
The ceremony was attended by Jaber Obaid, director of the Radio Network at EMI, Abdul Hamid Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Gulf News, Raja'a Al Halabi, EMI commercial manager, Vikram Dhar, business development manager of Al Nisr Publishing, and Abdul Rahman Awad, director of the office of the EMI director-general.
Gulf News
