Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority has revealed plans to develop a state-of-the-art media city in the Kingdom.

The media city is the embodiment of His Majesty King Hamad's vision regarding media openness, said the authority president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

'The planned scheme represents an opportunity for the private sector to invest in the media field,' he said.

Meanwhile, he said preparations are in full swing to launch a new TV channel on the Hotbird satellite, operated by Eutelsat.

The Bahrain International Channel will cover large swathes of the world, in addition to the Arab region and the Middle East.

'The new channel will be launched officially within the next few weeks as part of IAA's efforts to project the truth abroad and debunk fallacies and lies,' Shaikh Fawaz said.

Shaikh Fawaz also unveiled plans to set up an independent centre to reach out to foreign media. "The project has already been approved officially," he said, adding that he hoped the centre would see light soon.

He outlined efforts of the IAA to project the true facts to the world. Media consuls have been appointed in major capitals in the world, particularly London, Washington, Brussels and Paris, he said.

IAA officials intend to pay visits to the East Asian countries as part of the same campaign, he said. The IAA conducted over 130 radio, TV and Press interviews with major foreign media institutions to answer questions on allegations being spread by some parties, Shaikh Fawaz said.

It is now training media officials and official spokespersons in the government's public relations departments to ensure quick response to foreign media seeking true and credible information.  -- TradeArabia News Service