Oman, Saudi Arabia sign MoUs in media fields

Muscat: The governments of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) yesterday signed a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in the fields of audio, visual and print media.

The pacts were concluded within the context of the two-day official visit of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, KSA Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

The MoUs were signed by Dr. Abdullah Nassir Al Harrasi, Minister of Information, and Dr. Majid Abdullah Al Qasabi, Saudi Minister of Commerce, Acting Minister of Media in KSA.

The MoUs provide for the exchange of legislations, expertise and views about all that might help in disciplining the media, including ethical content of satellite channels, radio FM stations, internet-based media, artworks and electronic games.

The MoUs also deal with the exchange of research papers in the fields of media monitoring and statutes regulating media activity, as well as cooperation in producing cinema content and furnishing a lucrative environment for investment in the media sector.

Dr. Majid Al Qasabi told Oman News Agency (ONA) and Oman TV that “The visit of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman underpins the outcomes of the historic visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to the city of Neom in Saudi Arabia in July this year and cements ties between the GCC peoples.”

Speaking about the significance of the memoranda of understanding signed today, Al Qasabi said that media has an important role to play in highlighting the tourist, economic, cultural and social aspects of the Sultanate of Oman, while at the same time underlining investment opportunities available in Oman and the KSA.

The MoUs will bolster cooperation in developing newsfeeds in accordance with laws regulating the media in both countries, and this includes receiving each other’s services (images, news bulletins, technical information) in a regular manner.