INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CENTRE FOR LID2011 OPENS AT PICC

By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

PUTRAJAYA, June 17 (Bernama) -- The International Media Centre (IMC) for the 9th Langkawi International Dialogue 2011 (LID2011) opened Friday.

Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay opened the centre located at Hall 6, Concourse Level, of the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).

The IMC, equipped with facilities for some 120 journalists, has high speed internet acces, desktop computers and 78 free internet access ports for laptop use by local and foreign media.

A total of 300 journalists, photographers, cameramen and media relations officers have registered to cover LID2011 being held for the first time outside Langkawi, Malaysia's premier tourist resort, since its inception in 1995.

The shift was to meet requests from participating countries to see
first-hand developments in Putrajaya, the federal government administrative centre, Cyberjaya, an intelligent city, and Kuala Lumpur, the commercial capital.

The three-day LID, themed "Enhancing Smart Partnership for Socio-Economic Transformation" kicks off on Sunday, preceded by a business forum and exhibition.

Prime Minister Najib Razak will open and deliver a keynote address with the focus on "Transforming Smart Partnership Towards Socio-Economic Prosperity" while his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin will open the business forum Saturday.

This LID, the first to be hosted by Najib as the prime minister, is
organised by the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.