AIBD GENERAL CONFERENCE IN DELHI FROM MONDAY

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The 2^nd General Conference of Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) is being held in New Delhi from 22^nd to 25^th July, 2003. The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad would inaugurate the Conference and deliver the keynote address. The associate meetings of AIBD, however, would start on Monday the 21^st July, 2003.

Messages from the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan and UNESCO Director General, Mr. Koichiro Matsura would also be read on the occasion. About 75 delegates from the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region and representatives from several organizations like UNESCO, UN–ESCAP and Commonwealth Broadcasting Association would be attending. Besides, the affiliate members like Russian State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company, National TV and Radio Corporation of Kyrgizstan, Khabar Broadcasting Agency of Kazakhstan, Prix Jeunesse International, Germany, Deutsche Welle Radio Training Centre, Germany, Young Asia Television, Sri Lanka, Radio France International and Trans TV, Indonesia would also be attending.

On 21^st July, the AIBD Board Executive would hold its daylong meetings. The AIBD Sub-Group on Radio would also hold discussions. The agenda on other meetings would include the AIBD Strategic Plan, Strategic Approach in Broadcast Management in the Asia-Pacific Region. Asia-Pacific Europe Partnership Committee would also meet during the Conference.

The Asia-pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development with its headquarters at Kuala Lumpur is a unique regional inter-governmental organization servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development. The AIBD is mandated to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development. The Institute seeks to fulfil this mandate by mobilizing the intellectual and technological resources available within the national broadcasting organizations of its member countries as well as regional and international bodies through a well-established infrastructure and networking mechanism which includes government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of high learning, the private sector and individual professionals.

Membership of the AIBD had so far been confined to sovereign states only but they are allowed to designate the broadcasting authority of the country to be the beneficiary. The Institute currently enjoys a membership of 26 countries and two donor members Australia and Canada, and now has expanded its membership rolls to include many private organizations.

The paramount aim of the Institute is to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia Pacific region through policy and resource development. The Institute was established with the objective to assist countries, which are members of the Institute, to improve the professional capability of their broadcasting systems through systematic training and research programmes, consistent with their national development. Towards these objectives, the Institute organizes training courses, seminars and study courses for broadcasting personnel of member countries, both at regional and national levels, specifically designed to develop professional capabilities; undertakes research and comparative studies on broadcasting problems, provides advisory and consultancy services to member countries etc.

In the 1^st General Conference held at Hanoi in August 2002, India was elected its Vice-President as also the resolution to co-opt the existing Executive Members as the members of the Executive Board was adopted and as such India remains as its member till December 2003. AIBD organized the 1^st Conference of the Ministers on Information & Broadcasting in Asia & the Pacific in Bangkok (Thailand) from 26-28 May, 2003. It was intended to be a preparatory meet for World Summit of Information Society (WSIS). The Ministerial Conference was well attended and India was represented by Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad.