MOU on News Cooperation signed by Antara, MCOT

BANGKOK, February 28 (TNA) - Antara News Agency (Antara), Indonesia's national news agency, and Thai News Agency or TNA, under MCOT Public Company Limited (MCOT), a most established Thai media firm, have signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU on cooperation on broader news spheres, a move which sails the two allied news agencies in Southeast Asia through a new height in the lead-up to the ASEAN Community (AC), set to be formed by 2015. The MOU was signed on Thursday (Feb 28) by visiting Antara Director Saiful Hadi and MCOT President Anek Permvongseni at MCOT’s headquarter in Bangkok, the ceremony of which was witnessed by H.E. Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Lutfi Rauf, representatives of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as executives of the two news agencies and other distinguished guests. TNA and Antara, two leading news service providers in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, have enjoyed bilateral cooperation for more than 40 years. Both of the governments-supported news agencies are also members of the Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agency (OANA). Under the MOU, Antara and TNA further enjoy the exchange of news contents, operational news personnel, working visits of their staffs and other agreed activities, for the sake of mutual benefits. Antara and TNA have attached importance to the expanding partnership and alliance, as part of their national preparations for the AC, which is now just only two year away. On the same occasion, MCOT also welcomed a group of 10 Indonesian media personnel who are on their study tour in Thailand to, among others, learn about MCOT's TV and documentary productions, under an official program run by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote ties and cooperation between Thai and Indonesian journalists. (TNA)