Minister of Culture and Information calls for credible media

Dr Khoja said the organization of the Forum provides an evidence for
the growing awareness of the importance of the media and its impact
and contribution to the economic movement as well as projecting a
proper idea about the economic development attained in the country.

"Our country, which has been bestowed by a wise leadership, is full
of various human and natural resources and has made big strides in
the domains of development," he elaborated.


He noted that the admission of the Kingdom to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) has put up a great challenge before the Saudi
Media organs because the Saudi markets constitute the biggest in this
developing world.

Dr Khoja drew attention to the severe economic crisis facing the
world, and said in such circumstances the media plays a crucial role
as regards formulating the trends of the governments and nations
through providing figures, information, photographs and analysis on
the economic and trade activities as well as the impact of this
crisis on the societies and nations.


"Thanks to Allah Almighty, and thanks to our wise leadership, our
country has been standing away from this crisis which is inflicting
the world," he added.

Dr Khoja underscored the importance of training the youth by the
non-governmental media establishments.


He noted that the Ministry of culture and information organized two
years ago a workshop on training in the field of media at the Saudi
universities with the participation of several leaders in the field
of media and lecturers of media at the Saudi universities.


"Our country with its tremendous resources is in need of an
increasing number of professionals who are capable of performing
their media mission," he said.

Meanwhile, Abdulrahman al-Jeraisi, the Chairman of Riyadh's chamber
of commerce and industry, underscored the important role which could
be played by the media in all affairs of life.


He noted that the organization the Forum comes in line with the
attention being given by the Saudi government to the media and its
role in the service of the national economy and development with its
comprehensive perspective.


He hoped that the chamber of commerce and industry would play an
effective role as regards enhancing training programs in cooperation
with the concerned authorities notably the Ministry of culture and
information, and the Saudi journalists commission.


The function was attended by a number of senior officials and media
delegates and economic experts.


--SPA

--SPA