Nineteen media professionals from 10 ASEAN Member States visited India to learn more about ASEAN-India ties through the 2022 ASEAN-India Media Exchange Programme.
From 14 to 20 June 2022, ASEAN media delegates went on exposure trips to New Delhi and Hyderabad, and covered major events commemorating the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India dialogue partner relations.
Media representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam witnessed the open session of the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the 12th Delhi Dialogue on “Building Bridges in Indo-Pacific” which featured panel discussions on maritime cooperation, post-pandemic economic recovery, and the digital economy.
The delegates also visited various institutions that highlighted India’s rising leadership in science and technology. At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi, they learned about the Doctoral Fellowships in India for ASEAN, a fellowship programme offered by the government of India to students from ASEAN Member States.
They also visited Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a multinational company that offers a wide range of IT services and business solutions in multiple industries such as banking, energy, education, and healthcare. The company’s Senior Vice President, V. Rajanna, briefed them about Tata’s mission and operations.
The media also had the opportunity to visit Bharat Biotech International, Ltd., a leading biotechnology company known for developing and producing life-saving vaccines. Executive Director, Sai Prasad, enlightened them about Bharat’s pioneering efforts to develop vaccines for Zika virus and Chikungunya virus, and its success in coming out with India’s first locally-produced COVID-19 vaccine.
The programme wrapped up with the group’s visit to T-Hub, a business incubator that helps start-ups from India and other countries secure better technology, talent, business networks, and funding. The group was received and briefed by its Vice President, Panneerselvam Madanagopal.
As part of the programme, the ASEAN media delegates produced several news reports featuring the various events and activities they had participated in. These reports were aired or published in their respective media platforms.
A reciprocal visit of media professionals from India to ASEAN also transpired as part of the exchange programme. Eight individuals from various media agencies and an official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs A reciprocal visit of media professionals from India to ASEAN also transpired as part of the exchange programme. Eight individuals from various media agencies and an official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs
In Singapore, the delegates visited and interacted with the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the editor of Tabla!, and the editor and director of the Asia News Network and The Straits Times. They also paid a courtesy call to the High Commissioner of India to Singapore and interacted with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Communications and Information of Singapore.
In Cambodia, the delegates visited the temples of Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat as well as the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textile Museum. They attended the ASEAN Cultural Festival which included cultural performances from ASEAN and India. They also provided media coverage of the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN-India Summit and related events. Lastly, they paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Information, Dr. Khieu Kanharith.
The ASEAN-India Media Exchange Programme is an annual event that aims to expand people-to-people interaction and linkage between ASEAN and India. The programme is supported by the ASEAN-India Fund.
