44th Session of Executive Council of African Union: Nabil Ammar reiterates importance of multilateral partnershipsHollywood-Based Invention Studios Partners With The Government

During the 44th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, reiterated the importance of multilateral partnerships of the African Union within the framework of "win-win" cooperation , calling for «following up the outcomes of these partnerships in order to achieve the objectives of the 2063 development agenda». The minister also called for "holding regular political consultations with partners to overcome new international challenges, while taking into account the global geopolitical issues." The minister also spoke of recovering looted funds, urging the African Union Commission to pay a close attention to this issue during any negotiations with partners. He emphasized the need provide support to member states in their international efforts to recover the looted funds, read a statement of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Regarding the audit aspect and the budgetary and administrative issues of the African Union, the minister referred to the internal financial constraints of member states, calling for "prudence and austerity." He stressed the need to "adjust the budgets of international organizations while taking into account the global recession and the recent crises." Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse The Kenyan government has partnered with Hollywood-based Invention Studios based in the United States of America, to support and promote the production of Kenyan stories, through film and television. Speaking during press briefing, Tuesday, at Talanta Hela Plaza, Nairobi, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Ababu Namwamba, together with Mr. Nicholas Weinstock, the Founder and President of Invention Studios, Los Angeles, said through the partnership the creative industry in Kenya, has made a good leap with the U.S based studio. The partnership follows President William Ruto's pronouncement during last year's Jamuhuri Days' celebration, that the innovation studios would embark on productions in Kenya in 2024. The CS said, after a meeting held in September last year with key partners and the Kenyan government, three important agreements were signed on behalf of the government and the partners. The agreements included the National Basketball Association (NBA) from USA br inging NBA to Kenya, the Grammys to bring the benefits of the Grammys to African music, and the Invention studio, to partner with the film industry. 'Today we are delighted that the government in association with the Kenya Film Association, has officially partnered with the Invention studio of USA, to take the Kenya Film Industry to the next level,' said the CS. The CS added that Kenya is ready to take its space in the film industry, as a destination of choice. He termed the deal as historic and revolutionary, noting that Kenya will have exchange programs with elite film makers to enable the country have serious movies, films, and TV shows curated and shot in Kenya. Namwamba added that the Ministry has planned to hold a meeting with over 500 stakeholders, including directors, actors, media, script writers and other responsible members who make the industry tick. 'This deal is not a measure taken in a haphazard manner, but it's all part of the plan to improve the creative industry and the lucrative measur es, to position Kenya as a destination of choice for film making,' he stated. 'We firmly have the presence of the NBA, which has established two elite basketball courts at Kasarani and are rolling-out the program that will cascade over the entire schooling ecosystem program,' said Namwamba. 'The government didn't just travel for the sake of traveling nor sign the agreements for the sake of signing, but did it through deliberate extension structure, implementation agreement that seeks to advance an agenda program through the partnership,' he added. Invention Studio President Mr. Weinstock said 'For the first time ever under our mission, Invention studios would be working hand in hand with Kenyan creators and through the support of the Kenyan government, Ministry of Youth Affairs Creative Economy and Sports, and the Kenya Film Industry,' Weinstock further added that projects could be submitted by any authors in the country regardless of their experience or age, and promised to give all writers an access to a free support Craft service', [email protected] an online platform currently serving more than an emerging 600 script writers around the world. He also promised zoom conversations and workshops, to improve interaction with the script writers in the Kenyan Film Industry. Source: Kenya News Agency