Dubai, February 20, 2005: The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) has announced two new initiatives as part of its mission to raise the level of professionalism in public relations while increasing awareness and understanding of public relations as an important economic activity in the region. The first is a Corporate Membership scheme and the second a PR training programme for members of MEPRA.

MEPRA's corporate membership scheme has been created to reinforce its links with the region's corporate and government sectors. It offers senior PR, Public Affairs or Communications managers of reputed organizations or companies dedicated to maintaining the highest levels of PR professionalism the opportunity to join its ranks.

MEPRA has also launched a new quarterly training programme, beginning in April, which will see experienced public relations professionals delivering presentations for members on specialist areas such as Corporate Social Responsibility and Crisis Communications.

"The new corporate membership category has been introduced because we believe it is a natural step in MEPRA's development and one that will bring benefits to the association, its existing membership, and to new members who will be joining us from the corporate and government sectors," said Sadri Barrage, Managing Director of Headline PR and chairman of MEPRA.

With an annual subscription set at AED 5,000 per year, the new Corporate Membership category will provide entry to a professional organization that provides its members with a growing range of benefits, including networking opportunities, access to market intelligence, help with the recruitment of PR professionals or the pursuit of PR career opportunities through the MEPRA membership network, and access to information on PR trends and industry developments via MEPRA's international PR associations.

"Overall, the new Corporate Membership category will reinforce our efforts to raise the level of PR professionalism in the Middle East, as will the training programme we're introducing for the benefit of members, and ultimately for the benefit of their clients," Barrage added.

MEPRA also continues to build on its relationship with Zayed University's College of Communication and Media Sciences, having signed a memorandum of understanding pledging cooperation to increase awareness and understanding of public relations as a profession. The agreement includes raising the level of professionalism in the sector through joint courses and training offered at the Center for Media Training and Research at Dubai Media City. Talks are currently underway with Zayed University to expand on the existing courses by producing a tailor made PR training video.

"MEPRA has already done a great deal to raise awareness of PR and its effectiveness, and we remain committed to our main objectives, including working with universities and colleges to educate young Nationals about PR and the exciting career opportunities the industry presents," said Barrage.

MEPRA estimates that the regional PR business is growing at an estimated rate of 20 percent annually - a trend which has attracted new players to the region. This positive climate will not only see global players establish offices/affiliates but also a number of professional agencies expand their networks across the Middle East.

Since its inception in 2001, MEPRA has grown to 38 members, comprising 18 full members, three associates, four affiliates and 13 individual members and collectively providing a comprehensive range of PR services for a broad spectrum of local and multinational companies and organisations. MEPRA's members provide regional representation for most of the leading global PR players, including Brodeur|Pleon Worldwide, Burson-Marsteller, ECCO, Edelman, Euro RSCG, GCI, GolinHarris, Hill & Knowlton, MS&L, Ogilvy, Porter Novelli International and Weber Shandwick.

For more information on MEPRA please visit: www.mepra.org

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For more information contact:
Hannah Naji, Director
Impact Porter Novelli
Tel:++9714 330 4030 Ext 402
Fax:++9714 330 4031
Mobile:++97150 614 5605
Email:h.naji@ipn.ae

© Press Release 2005