Bangkok--Feb 2--The BERNAMA Bureau Thailand
Malaysia's Information Minister, Mr.Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir today officially launched the Malaysian National News Agency's (BERNAMA), Thailand Bureau as it widens its international news coverage.
The launching of the Thailand Bureau marks another milestone for the news agency which has offices in all state capitals in Malaysia, as well as in Singapore and Indonesia.
Mr.Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said the Bangkok bureau would help enhance ties between Malaysia and Thailand, through wider dissemination and exchange of information especially in the economic and social fields.
The minister said BERNAMA realised the importance of having a strong presence in Thailand following the ever increasing good relations between both countries, particularly in business and trade.
Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Mr.Shaarani Ibrahim, Director-General of Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand, Mr.Sihasak Phuangketkeow, BERNAMA General Manager, Mr.Syed Jamil Syed Jaafar, diplomats, and local media representatives witnessed the launching ceremony at Dusit Thani Hotel.
BERNAMA, which was established in 1967, now provides text news in Malay, English, Mandarin and Arabic and television news in Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil to satellite TV ASTRO.
It also has been tasked with the setting up of the Non-Aligned Movement News Network (NNN) which is expected to be launched by mid-March 2006.
The agency also has Bernama Fotoweb, an electronic image library, enabling round-the-clock online access to more than two million photographs.
BERNAMA's subscribers include international news agencies, radio and television stations, companies and data service providers.
Previously BERNAMA's news and information were only in the form of text and still photographs but with the launching of its audio-visual unit known as BERNAMA TV in 1998, it also now provides TV news service.
BERNAMA, which currently has over 300 journalists, photographers, TV cameramen and broadcasters, is continuously conducting research to upgrade the quality of its products and services. Among its ever expanding range of products and services are real-time financial information, real-time news, an electronic library, dissemination of press releases and media center management.
The Internet has opened up new opportunities for BERNAMA in diseminating its news and information services directly to the pubilc. This is done through its own web site, www.bernama.com. BERNAMA is also offering value-added news packages for Internet entrepreneurs maintaining their own web sites and web hosting.
The BERNAMA Bureau Thailand is located at Tai Ping Towers Condominium, Unit 2237, 582, Sukhumvit 63, Klongtonnua, Vattana, Bangkok. The head bureau is Mr.Arul Rajoo Durar Raj. To Contact, please call 0066-51429910 or fax no: 0066-23924017 e-mail at [email protected]. End