Embassy of Malaysia
Paris
05/07 17 April 2007
PRESS RELEASE
VISIT OF THE HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION TO FRANCE
The Minister of Information, the Hon. Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin arrived in Paris on Monday, 16 April 2007 en route to Cannes to attend the ?Television and Film Trade Market (MIPTV) 2007? from 16 to 20 April 2007. He was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Zaiton Zainal Abidin; the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Information, YBhg Dato? Siti Balkish Shariff and officials from the Ministry of Information. The MIPTV is the world?s premier audiovisual market where audiovisual professionals, broadcasting and production companies, gather to deal and buy programmes.
2. During his stay in Paris, the Hon. Minister attended a breakfast meeting with the officials of the Embassy of Malaysia as well as the Heads of the Malaysian Government Agencies based in Paris. The meeting was then followed by lunch with the Malaysian community in Paris. During the luncheon, the Hon. Minister gave a briefing on the latest situation and current developments in Malaysia including development projects carried out by the Malaysian government under the leadership of YAB Prime Minister Dato? Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
3. Earlier on Monday evening, the Hon. Minister attended a dinner hosted by H.E. Dato? S. Thanarajasingam, Ambassador of Malaysia to France and Datin Saradha Iyer at Rumah Malaysia.
4. At the MIPTV film market in Cannes, the Hon. Minister will be visiting various booths including the booth of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), which also participates in the film market. The Hon. Minister will also meet and hold discussions with American, German, Japanese and British film producers with a view to explore some of the latest television programmes available around the world.
5. On Thursday, the Hon. Minister will visit the Nice-Matin press group based in Nice. The press group is the publisher of the Nice-Matin newspaper and other regional dailies covering the South-East of France and Corsica Island. The Nice-Matin newspaper is one of the leading French regional dailies. Accompanied by H.E. Ambassador Dato? S. Thanarajasingam, the Hon. Minister will be received by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nice-Matin Press Group, Mr. Michel Camboul during the visit.
6. While in Nice, the Hon. Minister will attend a Taqarrub Programme organised by the Department of Special Affairs of the Ministry of Information (JASA) with 56 Malaysian students at the Grand Hotel Aston.
7. The Hon. Minister and delegation will participate in a walking tour of the Old Town of Nice before departing to London on Friday, 20 April 2007.