The
Langkawi International Dialogue
(LID) held in July 1999 called
for greater effort in promoting
a ‘smart partnership’
nation-building vision among the
South nations for solidarity,
harmony and mutual prosperity.
It also called for a greater
flow of news and information
between and among developing
nations.
To be a
depository and information
exchange centre that contributes
towards development, solidarity
and prosperity of South nations.
A platform
for South nations to provide and
source for balanced and accurate
news and information.
To foster better
relationships and greater understanding among the South nations;
To establish a central
depository that will allow the South nations to share
information, news and broadcast materials as a way to promote
peace, unity, solidarity and shared prosperity;
To narrow down the
disparities between the information rich and information poor
among the South nations;
To ensure that the news
about the South nations are being reported in a rapid,
objective, fair and balanced manner and in accordance with their
own perspectives; and
To pave the way for
other opportunities, which would enhance co-operation among the
South nations, following the exchange of news and broadcast
materials through SSIG smart partnership.
Click on the chart to view enlarged version.
BROADCAST MATERIALS
Broadcast materials produced by respective South nations on various
topics. Currently available are radio and television programmes
produced by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) as well as Malaysia
National Film Department (FNM) such as a talk shows, magazines,
documentaries, films, trailers and capsules.
SEMINARS/ROUNDTABLE CONFERENCES
Knowledge-generating and information-sharing activities such as a
workshops, seminars, forums, roundtables, conferences, exchange of
experts and study visits for and among South nations.
PRINTED MATERIALS
A collection of publications, reports, speeches and research papers
on various topics by respective South nations. To date, the
materials collected include papers presented during conferences and
forums as well as country profiles of South nations.
NEWS EXCHANGE
Daily update of news,
features and analyses by national news agencies of South nations
collated by the Malaysia National News Agency (BERNAMA), from its
network of news exchange such as the Organization of Asia Pacific
News Agencies (OANA), the NAM News Network and the Smart News
Network Internationl (SNNi).
The South-South Information Gateway (SSIG), which was set up as a platform to promote
the best interests of the South nations, can provide an avenue for a direct exchange of
information, news and broadcast materials in a fast and cost-efficient manner not only
amongst the South nations but also to the whole wide world.
The proposal for the establishment of SSIG was born out of the aspirations and hope of
the leaders of the Langkawi International Dialogue in July 1999 for a Smart Partnership
in pursuit of development amongst South-South countries. This partnership is in fact
consistent with the South-South Cooperation strategy adopted by the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) where the developing countries would work together for a win-win
outcome, rather than a "beggar thy neighbour" approach in their endeavours.
The website consists of two sections - a public domain where anybody can access and
read first-hand information about what is happening in a country by the media of that
country, and a library of broadcast materials for member nations to exchange. The focus
is on the broadcast media because the newspapers and news agencies of Third World
countries have their own exchange networks. As we know, it is costly and time-consuming
to produce for broadcasting but under the SSIG exchange, we would be building more
bridges of understanding among our peoples when our programmes are broadcast by radio
and TV stations of fellow South nations. In short, we shall be promoting a greater and
freer flow of information amongst ourselves vis-a-vis the present norm of a North-South
flow.
The website will be improved and refined as we get inputs from our fellow South
nations. Hence, I do invite you to join us in this Smart venture and together, we can
surely create a better understanding, more businesses and a better and equitable World
for all.
