The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) was admitted Thursday as a member of the MINDS International (Mobile Information and News Data Services), an association of 22 leading news agency from across the world seeking cooperation in the area of mobile information services, becoming the 23rd member. The decision to make BTA a member was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the organization in Helsinki, Finland, during the 32nd conference of the organization.
BTA Director General Kiril Valchev likened MINDS International to the G-20, the organization of the most advanced world economies. Among the members are leading news agencies “from the US and Canada, to Japan and Australia via the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland”, to use Valchev’s words. He added that BTA will share with its partners in the organization its experience with transitioning to free from subscription-based services and the use of new sources and information formats.
MINDS International was established in 2004. BTA becomes the 23rd member which also includes: the Anadolu Agency, the Australian Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau, Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, Associated Press, Austria Presse Agentur, Belga Agence de presse Persbureau, the Canadian Press, Ceska tiskova kancelar, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Agencia EFE, Kyodo News, Lusa, Norsk Telegrambyra, Polska Agencja Prasowa, Reuters, Ritzaus Bureau, Schweizerische Depeschenagentur, Suomen Tietotoimisto Lehtikuva and Tidningarnas Telegrambyra.
Source: Emirates News Agency