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.
