Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, Chairman of National Media Council (NMC), has chaired the meeting of follow up committee on the initiatives of NMC regarding the emiratisation procedures, following the reshuffling and addition of new members.

The committee discussed the steps accomplished in the project of emiratisation of media agencies in the UAE in the light of submitted proposals in the previous meetings and resolutions of the committee to set a coordination council for emiratisation, and the need to focus on training of Emirati cadres in the media field.

Sheikh Hamdan said during the meeting that NMC will not force anyone on the media corporations in the country out of belief of their high sense of duty towards the emiratisation process and keenness to make it a success. He hoped that the emiratisation will take place in good proportion and observe the needs of community in general as there are local cadres that can bear the responsibility and boost the media work.

On the reshuffle of committee, he added that the move aimed at inclusion of competent authorities regarding the emiratisation to make the plan successful. Sheikh Hamdan cited the addition of Saif Al Mazrouei, Assistant Undersecretary for Scientific Research to benefit from the supervision of the Ministry on the Higher Education to guide some specialisations or scholarships for studying of media, and creation of the specialisations that serve the objective of emiratisation.

He also referred to the addition of Noora Al Bodour, Director of the Employment and Skills Development Centre at the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (TANMIA) to the committee to benefit from the centre’s employment programmes of Emiratis to provide media job opportunities to them.

Earlier, Sheikh Hamdan in his capacity as the Chairman of NMC, had issued the decision No. 45 of year 2011, on reshuffling of the committee under chair of Ahmed Ali Al Balooshi, General Manager of Emirates Media Inc.