Under the aegis of the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Bin Abdulmohsen Al Sheikh, the GEA is all set to host the Entertainment Industry Forum (Joy Forum 19), on Oct. 13-14 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here. The hosting of the forum, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, is designed to enhance the Kingdom's presence on the map of the entertainment industry in the region. The vision calls for the development of the Kingdom's entertainment industry and enabling it to become an international center for mega entertainment events, and an important base for businesses and talents associated with the entertainment industry. The forum will be a stage to build an attractive investment environment by building strong partnerships to create, develop, and invest all of the Kingdom's related platforms, including infrastructure and utilities, in light of the regulatory developments in the sector. CEO of GEA Amr Bin Ahmad Banaja stressed that the Kingdom is moving forward confidently towards enhancing the entertainment industry by presenting a pioneering model in this field. He pointed out that the Kingdom opens today with confidence to the world to prove its status and merit and present its young talents backed up by experience, adding, that this forum is the first building block in building a vibrant and sustainable entertainment sector. He added that the Authority, through its many activities, including the entertainment industry forum, seeks to support the presence of local content in the entertainment sector, in addition to adopting the best international quality standards in the sector, to create a rich entertainment experience for visitors, while adopting the best technology systems to manage and develop the sector. The forum, which is perceived as a turning point for the future of entertainment development in Saudi Arabia, will host a selection of speakers, experts, CEOs, international academics, and companies involved in the knowledge-based entertainment sectors from within and outside the Kingdom. The forum will witness the presence of some Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities. The conference agenda also includes a variety of topics covering a series of international case studies, design strategies, and the ability to change. In addition, the forum will focus on, growth factors of the local economy, the role of social behaviors, interaction with innovation and technology, and the creation of joy, happiness, and well-being. The agenda also provides an effective model for entertainment, the way of influencing, and creating investment opportunities. Moreover, it provides a platform to announce new strategies, partnerships, and initiatives to support and develop the entertainment industry. The forum will be accompanied by a number of events including an entertainment exhibition and a workshop that brings together a group of researchers, designers, developers, and businessmen who are interested in designing, developing, evaluating, and marketing events for the local Saudi market. The workshops have been divided into two sections: medium and advanced. — SPA
