The first meeting on the Kingdom's public relations industry has been held by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). The event was held to discuss modern PR methods and the experience of public- and private-sector agencies and establishments in the field. Chairman of the Gulf Branch of the International Society for Public Relations, Faisal Al-Zahrani said the PR sector in the Middle East has been growing fast and its current market value has reached $9 billion. He also revealed that the 20th International Conference for Public Relations 2012 will be in Dubai in March which will be the first time the event will be held in the Middle East. “The conference is held once every two years and hosts public relations experts from around the world who discuss the most modern trends and challenges of this sector,” he said. Al-Zahrani said over 500 experts from around the world will participate in the conference. JCCI Secretary General, Adnan Hussain Mandoura, said the JCCI exerts great efforts to develop its staff's PR skills and allow them to benefit from global experience. “The JCCI supports conferences which reinforce the concept of public relations and rehabilitate Saudi youth in this field. Most of the public relations officers hold academic degrees but don't have practical experience to run and plan public relations' campaigns.” __
