Wednesday, August 31 2005 12:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: South Asian Information Ministers today (August 31, 2005) ended a two-day meeting in Kathmandu with an agreement to cooperate in broadcasting, film and media development, an official said.

The Ministers from the seven-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had agreed to establish "A regulatory framework to streamline the works of private channels and broadcasting agencies," said Nepal Minister for Information and Communications Tanka Dhakal.

They had furthermore decided to organise SAARC-wide festivals featuring films, television films and documentaries produced in the region.

"It was also agreed to establish a SAARC media development 100,000-dollar seed fund and prepare trans-national guidelines for satellite broadcast in the region," Dhakal said.