India and Senegal to set up Joint Working Group in Information and Broadcasting sector

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 and Broadcasting.

According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Agreement to constitute the Joint Working Group was taken during the meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari and Minister of Culture of republic of Senegal Mr.Abdul Aziz Mbaye here today.

Both Ministers agreed to draw a time bound roadmap in order to take the cooperation in the Information and Broadcasting Sector forward.

During the discussions, Manish Tewari extended the invitation to the Minister of Culture to participate during IFFI 2013 at Goa.

Both the Ministers have also agreed to identify cooperation in areas pertaining to co-production in the film sector, experience sharing by India by 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.

Tewari explained the Cultural 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.

He also outlined the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry in the Broadcasting space referring to the laws, rules and regulations formulated pertaining to Cable TV/DTH/HITS.

He also made a special mention regarding the digitization process in the country and the endeavour to create a viable business model for the industry through this process.

The Cultural Minister from Senegal Mr.Abdul Aziz Mbaye referred to the possibilities of cooperation between the Public Broadcaster and the Senegalese Government Broadcaster in the near future.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister also offered to cooperate in training and capacity building through the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). He added that this segment could be promoted through workshops, training modules and orientation courses.