Manila, 21 July- In materializing the spirit of of “Prosperity for All” which has been the ultimate foundation of peace and stability of the ASEAN region in these 50 years, the Asean Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) Working Group on Content and Production (WG-CP) have taken a pivotal role in the further expansion of the creative content industry and driving strategic directions for the expansion of the ASEAN content and production market. Taking this fact into account, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM) and National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) have participated at the 4th SOMRI (WG-CP) meeting and dialogue in Metro Manila, Phillipines as a platform to discuss and formulate policy and strategic directions that would support the growing ASEAN market. Attended by key representatives from each ASEAN member state, Mr.S. Letchumanan Shanmugam, UnderSecretary of International Division (KKMM) and Mr. Abdul Khalid Maulod, the Marketing Director of FINAS have employed this strategic meeting in building more cohesive and constructive cooperation among ASEAN countries which is essentially recommended.

“ As for FINAS, we have been working progressively in actualizing the visions and aims of Economic Transformation Program (ETP) which includes ‘Nurturing Malaysia’s Creative Content’ as one of the entry point projects under the Communications Content and Infrastructure National Key Economic Area (NKEA). Thus, increasing the regional level of cooperation could empower our creative content industry to penetrate new growing market in ASEAN countries” said Khalid who has also exchanged information on policies and economic framework, potential Malaysian creative content and foreign investment through Film in Malaysia Incentive; the 30% cash rebate initiative for potential international producers.

Among the highlighted points presented by the delegates during the meeting were on developing digital convergence, exploring new areas for market growth, revamping regional structure and framework and accelerating foreign relations and co-treaty.