June 20, 2006

A rising tide lifts all boats and so it is with ICCO. As the representative association of the global PR industry our objective is to help raise professional standards throughout the world. We do this in a variety of ways - through encouraging the implementation of the Consultancy Management Standard (CMS), a wider understanding and use of the Stockholm Charter, encouraging debate on a range of issues ranging including ethics, how we charge and by helping to ensure that the very highest standards exist throughout the world. In this way, an agency or client seeking a partner can confidently look to an ICCO member in the knowledge that this firm subscribes to our stated values. In these and other ways we help to build trust and mutually rewarding relationships.

A major initiative for 2006 is the staging of what promises to be the most important Global Summit for our industry to date. "Forget Best Practices, Think Next Practices" will provide a true insight into how the communications industry will look like in the future.

Our decision to award this Conference to India is, of course, no co-incidence. India, not only has risen to the very top of the list in terms of emerging markets, but we at ICCO have long since become aware of the world class event management skills of the local PR industry.

The Indian Minister for Commerce & Industry, the Hon. Shri Kamal Nath sets the tone for this event by agreeing to participate and he will deliver a paper on the "new world economic order."

Other keynote speakers include Yann Risz, COO & Founding Partner, The Next Practice; R Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Tata Sons Limited; T N Ninan, Editor-in-Chief Business Standard and Jeff Fuller, Principal Advisor, Mercer HR Consulting.

Another highlight of the Conference promises to be the Matchmaking sessions being organised by the PRCAI to facilitate the spawning of relationships between local PR firms and those beyond India who are seeking to get a foothold in that market or to establish one form or relationship or another.

A measure of just how seriously the global PR industry is taking this event is the fact that so many industry leaders have agreed to take part. Among these are Harald Burson of Burson Marsteller, Lou Capozzi of Publicis Public Relations, Harris Diamond of Weber Shandwick and Helen Ostrowski of Porter Novelli.

Peter Verrengia of Fleishman-Hillard will also lead a session on the latest developments in measurement. And the programme also includes a strong social content including what promises to be a glittering Bollywood evening.

In recommending this event to you, I would also ask you to consider using this year's Summit as an incentive for your high performing staff. They will benefit hugely from this experience in a variety of ways.

India is a wonderful reflection of the growth in the world communications industry and of a New World Order which is evolving before our very eyes and which PR, more than any other communications channel, has expertise in true depth.

Please join us in New Delhi on October 4th and 5th for what will be the finest ever international PR event.