JEDDAH: Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja yesterday inspected the ministry’s facilities in Makkah province, including the television and radio stations in Jeddah, and urged officials to double their efforts by making use of technological developments in the media industry.
“We have to project the remarkable development achieved by the Kingdom in various sectors under the wise leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,” said Khoja, who was accompanied by Bakr Bagader, undersecretary for international cultural relations.
The minister also visited the office of Saudi Press Agency in Jeddah. Ali bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, director of SPA in Makkah province, briefed Khoja on the agency’s efforts to cover various national and international events.
“Achieving reasonable media openness is my priority,” said Khoja, who replaced Iyad Madani as the culture and information minister. He added that the ministry would work conforming to the Kingdom’s principles.
Khoja, a seasoned diplomat who served as Saudi ambassador to Turkey, Russia, Morocco and Lebanon, requested senior Saudi media persons to give their opinions on how to develop the Kingdom’s mass media, including radio and television. He has stated that he would work to reach the Kingdom’s voice of peace all over the world and highlight its stand of moderation, tolerance and flexibility.
Khoja has many plans to strengthen the ministry, in tune with the political, educational and cultural reforms introduced by King Abdullah, and making use of the experience he gained from foreign countries as ambassador.
Saudi analysts have expressed their confidence in Khoja, saying he is capable of taking Saudi media to new heights. “I am sure that the Saudi media would witness tremendous progress during Khoja’s term,” said Aaed Al-Radadi, a Shoura member and former director of SPA.
He hoped that the new minister would take the initiative to establish a corporation for Saudi radio, television and news agency to have adequate administrative and financial flexibility required for developing media outlets.
