Walid Al Lafi, the Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU), attended the third edition of the Saudi Media Forum, which took place in Riyadh from February 19 to 21. During a ministerial dialogue on the role of Arab media in navigating transformations, Al Lafi highlighted Libya’s governmental media shift towards a communication approach focused on cultural diversity and direct citizen engagement.
The forum showcased an exhibition on the future of media and hosted the Saudi Media Forum Award. It featured over 150 international speakers across more than 30 sessions discussing various aspects of media evolution and challenges in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman Al-Dosari announced a new strategy for the Saudi media industry, aiming for a significant transformation by 2024. Al-Dosari outlined the media’s economic contributions, including adding SR14.5 billion (around $3.9 billion) to the GDP and creating 56,000 jobs in 2023. The plan for 2024 aims to boost the sector’s economic impact to $4.3 billion and expand employment to 67,000, highlighting the sector’s role in economic and social development.
Al-Dosari’s strategic vision includes improving operational efficiency, attracting investments, and enhancing the national workforce’s skills. Initiatives such as developing a comprehensive media framework, revitalizing the Saudi Broadcasting Authority for increased growth and competitiveness, and fostering media professionals to produce globally impactful content were also announced.
