NATO Regional Center in Kuwait: Boosting Gulf Cadre Efficiency in Media Engagement

Emad Al-Kandari, Director of the NATO Regional Centre of Excellence and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, emphasized the importance of enhancing media and institutional communication skills and improving the efficiency of Gulf personnel in dealing with the media, especially during crises and emergency events.

This statement was made by Al-Kandari in an interview with KUNA yesterday on the sidelines of the launch of the advanced training course on public affairs, titled “Crisis Communication,” hosted by the Centre in collaboration with the Regional Public Affairs Centre in the Republic of North Macedonia. The course, which runs until the 29th of the current month, is attended by trainees from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Al-Kandari clarified that the course aims to equip participants with advanced communication skills and techniques, professional media appearance mechanisms, and effective communication during crises, thereby enhancing their ability to handle the media professionally and elevating the level of institutional communication in their daily tasks.

He noted that the training program combines theoretical lectures with practical applications, including drafting press releases, conducting media interviews, organizing press conferences, as well as developing verbal and non-verbal communication skills, monitoring and analyzing media coverage.

He stressed that the course also focuses on developing participants’ capacities to manage media communication under various circumstances and crises, contributing to enhancing their readiness to deal with media challenges efficiently and professionally.