Baku, Nov. 19 (BNA): On the sidelines of the Fifth News Agencies World Congress (NAW and the 16th Assembly of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), hosted by the Azeri capital, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) signed five partnership memoranda for the exchange of news in text and images with five news agencies.

BNA signed agreements with the Azerbaijan News Agency (AZERTAC), the president of the News Agencies World Council from 2016 to 2019, Portuguese News Agency, Albanian News Agency, the Ukrainian News Agency and the Pakistan Press International (PPI).

BNA Acting Director-General and Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), Mohannad Suleiman Al-Noaimi, said that BNA had already signed a number of agreements and memoranda of cooperation and exchange of news stories with more than 34 Arab and international news agencies, adding that the partnerships will ensure the dissemination of BNA’s news in other websites.

The move, which is in accordance with the directives of the Minister of Information Affairs, Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, aims to consolidate the frameworks of cooperation and coordination with world news agencies as part of BNA’s plans to expand and activate its partnerships with its regional and international counterparts, he said.

He affirmed that various news agencies expressed their desire to hold partnership with BNA thanks to their confidence in it, noting that many news outlets have requested receiving Bahrain’s news and images in line with their keenness to ensure the dissemination of Bahrain’s official voice within their news.

Al-Noaimi revealed that he had reviewed areas of cooperation with seven other news agencies from various continents, noting that agreements will be signed with them during the first half of 2017 to ensure that Bahrain’s voice reaches more people in the world through new languages.

He pointed out that while seeking to take advantage of the successful experiences of other news agencies, BNA aims to present its experiences, especially in the field of new media and ways to disseminate news through social media networks, adding that many news agencies have expressed desire to avail of BNA’s experiences.

He highlighted the importance of signing partnership memoranda in ensuring that Bahrain’s voice reaches the world via new languages, as well as in promoting the kingdom’s various landmark achievements.

It also provides an opportunity to be informed about the experiences of other news agencies, he added.

The signing of partnership memoranda during the Fifth News Agencies World Congress, the 16th Assembly of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and the 22nd session of the Council of CIS Heads of News Agencies is of utmost importance to BNA as these events are attended by the representatives of more than 120 countries, as well as the participation of the senior officials of over 200 public and private news agencies, and those of both the UN and UNESCO.