New article

By Toby Collins

April 20, 2011 (LONDON) – Reports suggest an Emiratie media group will be establishing significant media apparatus in the administrative capital of South Sudan, Central Equatoria.

It is believed that an agreement was signed between the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Fujairah Media Group (FMG), following a visit to the United Arab Emirate based organization by a South Sudanese delegation.
Mekki Abdulla, the CEO of FMG and Francis Barson Lado, Southern Sudan’s Minister of Information and Culture, in the presence of Jacob Aligo Lo Lado, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Michelle Rebroto Kini Ligi; Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; and Faraj Jumaa Zaid Ajuda, Manager of Broadcast and Transmission in the Southern Sudan Television and Radio Station are claimed to have signed the agreement.

FMG is a joint venture of the Fujairah Cultural Authority and Arab International Media Services and is based in the United Arab Emirates.

The National, part of Abu Dhabi Media, quotes FMG’s CEO as saying “We’ll be putting in a transmission system for wireless data services […] The funding is coming from Fujairah Investments, which is a shareholder in FMG. It’s all being channelled through Fujairah Media Group.” He is quoted as saying this will amount to “in the region of €25 million [US$36.3 million]” in investment. A wireless network would allow eas of electronic communication in the state.

Additional to the wireless network FMG is reported to be involed in a joint venture with the South Sudan based, East Communications, in establishing a series of television and radio stations with US$5.1 million of investment, “We’re commissioning [the Central Equatoria radio and TV stations] at the moment, and hope to put them on air in July, when the independence commences.”

(ST)