Indonesia, Kuwait push closer ties between state news agencies

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Kuwait on Tuesday initiated talks to explore deeper cooperation between their state news agencies, aiming to strengthen the two-way flow of information and build mutual understanding between peoples.

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN Khalid Jassim Al-Yassin highlighted government support for a news exchange partnership between Indonesia’s ANTARA News Agency and the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

ANTARA President Director Benny Siga Butarbutar received him for a discussion at the ANTARA Heritage Center in Jakarta.

“I think there’s a need to increase the level of cooperation between ANTARA and the press and news agencies in Kuwait with the aim of strengthening the exchange of news and information between both countries,” Al-Yassin said.

The envoy noted that ANTARA and KUNA share several similarities, pointing out that both are official news agencies older than their host countries.

ANTARA was founded in 1937, eight years before Indonesia’s independence, while KUNA had already been operating for five years by the time Kuwait gained independence in 1961.

To accelerate cooperation realization, Al-Yassin asked ANTARA to submit a draft memorandum of understanding to the Kuwaiti Embassy for forwarding to KUNA.

He also expressed confidence that avenues for collaboration remain wide open, voicing hope that a cooperation document will soon be signed.

Butarbutar welcomed the initiative, emphasizing ANTARA’s keenness to expand its networking with counterparts in the Middle East.

He underlined that such collaboration would enrich the flow of information from the region, which has been relatively limited, particularly on economic and cultural issues.

On that note, he suggested that ANTARA and KUNA begin the partnership under a news exchange framework.

“If we can get direct information and exchange news, it would be better for both countries. Most importantly, we need this cooperation between the Kuwait News Agency and ANTARA News Agency,” the president director said.

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Translator: Uyu Liman, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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