Information Ministers Propose Creation of Content Bank in Asia

Information Ministers from India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and South Korea discussed recently  a proposal to set up a content bank that will contribute towards the preservation of Asia’s cultural heritage and linguistic diversity.

The proposal was taken up during a brief meeting in New Delhi on 10 May 2018 among Indian Minister Smt Smriti Zubin Irani of Information and Broadcasting and Minister of Textiles, Mr Hasanul Haq Inu, Bangladeshi Minister of Information, Dr Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian Minister of Information, and Mr Ko Sam Seog, Standing Commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission on the sidelines of the Asia Media Summit 2018.

Information Minister Mr Hasanul Haq Inu mooted the idea of establishing a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) content bank, which Indian Minister Smt Smriti Zubin Irani welcomed and assured officials she will take it up with their Ministry of External Affairs.

AIBD Director Chang Jin who was present at the meeting said the Institute was willing to play a role in setting up the content bank, which should be commercially viable.

He also informed the Ministers that  the United Nations has requested the AIBD to help create a media compact to promote the UN-initiated 17 Sustainable Development Goals SDGs. Towards this purpose, a group of 20 media heads from the world is expected to sign an agreement with the United Nations during its next General Assembly.

On September 25th 2015, UN-member countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each SDG has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.