INDIA AND SENEGAL AGREE TO SET UP JOINT WORKING GROUP IN THE INFORMATION & BROADCASTING SECTOR

SHRI MANISH TEWARI MEETS MR.ABDUL AZIZ MBAYE, MINISTER OF CULTURE

India and Senegal have agreed to form a Joint Working Group in areas identified under the Executive Programme for Cultural Cooperation signed between the two countries.  The areas identified are based on the Articles 4 and 11 of the Agreement pertaining to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.  The Agreement to constitute the Joint Working Group was taken during the meeting between Shri Manish Tewari and Mr.Abdul Aziz Mbaye here today. Both Ministers agreed to draw a time bound  roadmap in order to take the cooperation in the Information & Broadcasting Sector forward.

During the discussions, Shri Tewari extended the invitation to the Minister of Culture to participate during IFFI 2013 at Goa which was readily accepted by the visiting Minister.  Both Ministers also agreed to identify cooperation in areas pertaining to co-production in the film sector, sharing the experience by India in setting up the National Museum of Indian Cinema and the efforts being made by India to establish a single window clearance for film shooting in the country.  Shri Tewari apprised the  Minister from Senegal on the potential of the areas of cooperation in the film sector and the participation in festivals such as the Children’s Film Festival and the Documentary Film Festival organized by the Films Wing of this Ministry. 

Shri Tewari also outlined the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry in the Broadcasting space.  He specifically referred to the laws/rules/regulations formulated pertaining to Cable TV/DTH/HITS.  Special mention was made regarding the digitization process in the country and the endeavour to create a viable business model for the industry through this process.  The Minister of Culture from Senegal referred to the possibilities of cooperation between the Public Broadcaster and the Senegalese Government Broadcaster in the near future.  The I&B Minister also offered to cooperate in training and capacity building through the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.  This segment could be promoted through workshops, training modules and orientation courses.