AMMAN (JT) - The International Advertising Association-Jordan Chapter (IAA Jordan) valued the advertising and marketing communications industry today at about JD220 million, compared to only JD30 million just 10 years ago.
Addressing a gala dinner, IAA Jordan President Mustafa Tabba said: "Tonight the share of Jordan's total ad expenditure represented in this ballroom, be it through our advertisers, agencies or media is close to 70 per cent..."
"This is by no means the end of the road for our industry," he added. "We still have many more records to break and many more creative ideas to introduce to Jordan."
Tabba highlighted the visions of IAA's Jordan chapter and reviewed its achievements over the past years noting that the number of members has grown from 15 when established in 2000, to 36 in 2004 and now has a total of 130 members.
At the event, IAA's Jordan chapter honoured Mohammad Khalifeh, who established his business in 1949 and joined the IAA global chapter in 1966, with the IAA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Honoured with the IAA Recognition Award for its continued support for the IAA and the industry was Al Rai Newspaper. Fahed Fanek, chairman of the Jordan Press Foundation, received the award of behalf of the newspaper.
In a speech he delivered at the event, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Nasser Judeh said: "I do not want to be the one to announce numbers, expenditure figures, percentages of growth or the sort."
"Rather I prefer to speak as a public official witnessing the media blitz that Jordan has enjoyed, and seeking to continue the governmental support and investment environment that facilitates these initiatives, which indeed contribute to enabling Jordan attain its deserved regional and international position as an open and exciting media market," he added.
"There are some impressive developments too on the advertising and marketing services side, with our local agencies partnering with regional and multinational networks, delivering highly specialised services that cater to the evolving needs of clients across the Kingdom, and ensuring that the local advertising scene is indeed on par with the best that Cairo, Beirut or Dubai can offer," said Judeh, who acted as patron at the event.
© Jordan Times 2008
