Latest news with #culturaldiplomacy
Free Malaysia Today
15-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia backs Usanita's push to empower women entrepreneurs in Australasia
Malaysian high commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki (second from left) and Usanita CEO Adzliana Hasan (second from right) at the pre-launch ceremony of Bridge to Brilliance 4.0 Australasia in Auckland, New Zealand. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian high commission in New Zealand has declared its support for Usanita Group's mission to help Malaysian women entrepreneurs expand internationally, especially in the Australasian market. Malaysian high commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki praised Usanita as a vital platform for promoting women's involvement in cross-border business and economic diplomacy. Speaking at the soft launch of Bridge to Brilliance (BtB) 4.0: Australasia in Auckland, Mazita said Usanita's initiatives align with Malaysia's strengths in entrepreneurship, culture and diplomacy. BtB 4.0 will feature several cultural and economic programmes, including a Malaysian heritage fashion showcase during Malaysia Day in Wellington, and a 'Taste of Malaysia' halal food promotion campaign. Other initiatives include film screenings and short films by students that aim to promote inclusive cultural diplomacy between Malaysia and the region. In a statement, Mazita said the collaboration supports Malaysia's goals as this year's Asean chair and contributes to the celebration of the country's 62nd Malaysia Day. She also said recent developments, such as the visit by New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon to Malaysia last year, have strengthened bilateral ties and paved the way for greater cooperation. Usanita CEO Adzliana Hasan welcomed the high commission's endorsement, saying it validates the critical role of Malaysian women in both economic and cultural diplomacy. She said that as part of BtB 4.0, Usanita has begun production on two telemovies in Auckland and will begin filming a third in September. The BtB programme, which started in Malaysia and expanded to Indonesia and the UK, aims to uplift Malaysian entrepreneurs, especially women and the B40 group, and is part of Malaysia's broader strategy for inclusive development during its Asean chairmanship.
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
French and South African creative industries in the spotlight at ICC Forum 2025
French and South African leaders from the creative economy recently gathered in Pretoria for the ICC Forum 2025, a flagship event of the ICC Immersion South Africa programme, hosted at the French Residence in Pretoria. Part of the France 2030 initiative and implemented locally by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Business France South Africa and Southern Africa, the ICC Forum provided a high-level platform for collaboration, innovation, and exchange between cultural and creative industry (CCI) professionals across both countries. Welcoming the delegation, His Excellency Mr David Martinon, French Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, emphasised France's ongoing commitment to cultural diplomacy and the shared potential of the creative industries to drive innovation, sustainability, and social impact. 'ICC Immersion in South Africa is more than a showcase of French creativity — it's a catalyst for long-term collaboration between French companies and South African partners. This forum marks the beginning of concrete joint ventures in fields such as digital arts, sustainable fashion, immersive heritage, and music innovation. These creative industries are drivers of economic opportunity, social transformation, and deeper mutual understanding.', said Ambassador Martinon. The Forum provided an opportunity for the ICC Immersion South Africa 2025 delegates to showcase their respective companies and offerings: ALLEGRIA – Creators of 'Château Merveilles', an immersive VVIP dining experience combining two cultures while showcasing the French Art de Vivre. Get ready for an unforgettable dinner in the famous Louvre museum or Palace of Versailles Atrack (Beam for Music) – helps artists and music publishers optimise royalty tracking and revenue recovery through advanced technology and data visualisation tools. Agence Culturelle PLUS (Reunion Island) – a cultural think tank facilitating dialogue between arts, heritage, and people, while revitalising traditional mediation tools through site-specific projects and festivals. Culturespaces – manages 14 renowned cultural and heritage sites including the Atelier des Lumières in Paris, offering immersive exhibitions and audiovisual experiences across France and abroad. Fabrik & Moi (Reunion Island) – a high-end fashion brand focused on ethical and sustainable textile innovation, with a CSR-led project that transforms used fabrics into luxury pieces—featured most recently at Paris Fashion Week. France Muséums Développement – provides strategic consulting for major museum projects globally, leveraging the expertise of leading French museums to foster cultural impact and audience engagement. Jakob + MacFarlane – a cutting-edge architecture and urban design firm known for socially committed, environmentally innovative projects across sectors—from museums and theatres to housing and research labs. Memorist – brings together five French heritage firms to offer services in conservation, restoration, digitisation, and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural assets worldwide. SoundBirth – the first French startup to deliver an all-in-one mobile platform for artists, combining global music distribution, social media promotion, and AI-powered career support. Exploring the future of culture, design, and innovation Over the course of the day, a series of dynamic panel discussions also unpacked key issues shaping the future of the creative sector — from green design and digital innovation, to inclusive cultural institutions and urban tourism development through heritage. Highlights included: Driving Innovation: Start-Up Culture in CCI Moderated by creative entrepreneur and CEO of Chocolate Tribe, Nosipho Maketo-Van den Bragt, this session spotlighted the role of technology and entrepreneurship in reshaping music, media, and content platforms. Speakers included Maxime Marmoz (SoundBirth), Joy Mawela (Tshimologong Digital Content Hub), Jimmy Muteba (Moodswing) and Thomas Zandrowicz (Beam for Music). Green Design Futures A forward-thinking dialogue on sustainable design and ethical creativity across architecture, fashion, and the arts. Moderated by Eben Keun (Breinstorm Brand Architects), the panel featured Brendan McFarlane (Jakob + MacFarlane), Carline Grunfelder (Fabrik & Moi), Juliet Kavishe (Pan Afrikan Design Institute) and Eduardo Cachucho (Pro Helvetia Johannesburg). Cultural Institutions: Designing for Inclusion and New Publics Chaired by artist and curator Siwa Mgoboza, this session explored how institutions are becoming more accessible, innovative, and audience-focused. Contributions came from Caryn Green (Sibikwa Arts Centre), Simon Eyriès (Culturespaces) and Tanguy Sévat-Denuet (Agence culturelle PLUS). Shaping the Cultural Economy: Heritage & Events as Drivers of Urban Development Moderated by Avril Joffe (Associate Researcher Wits University, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Policy), this panel showcased how cities can leverage culture for sustainable growth. Speakers included Beth Arendse (SA Creative Industries Incubator), Isabel Lecea (Memorist) and Claudie Bonavita (France Muséums). The Forum formed part of a 10-day immersion programme in South Africa for the visiting French delegation — comprised of leading creative companies across fashion, architecture, tech, heritage, and event production — as part of the broader ICC Immersion 2025 programme. The ICC Immersion South Africa programme began in April 2025 with an online immersion phase featuring market insight sessions and expert-led discussions. From 23 June to 2 July 2025, participants took part in a 10-day physical immersion across Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town, including B2B meetings, site visits, and high-level networking events. Copyright © 2022 - All materials can be used freely, indicating the origin Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Insignia Worldwide launches Expo Design Lab as a new division
Dubai, UAE – Insignia Worldwide, one of the region's leading strategic advisory firms focusing on integrated destination development announced the launch of Expo Design Lab, a new division dedicated to global expositions, national and cultural platforms. Building on the firm's twenty-year track record, The Expo Design Lab will be the first integrated concept, design, experience and operational delivery service for host nations to deliver a seamless experience and for countries to showcase their pavilions. 'We are entering a new era of cultural diplomacy, where nations must tell their most compelling stories on the world stage. Insignia's Expo Design Lab ensures that from concept to completion, every element, whether physical, digital or emotional, is purpose-driven and powerfully executed,' said Gaurav Sinha, CEO of Insignia Worldwide. Founded in 2003, Insignia has built its expertise with a focus on leisure and hospitality, arts and culture, travel and tourism, real estate development and key nation-building initiatives. Insignia's unique integrated design and experience services have positioned it as a category-defining design and strategy consultancy. The company has supported numerous tourism boards and sovereign funds, real estate developers, as well as prestigious arts and cultural initiatives, as well as over 200 hotels across 20 countries. As the lead partner for the visitor experience at the Saudi Pavillion at Osaka Expo 2025, Insignia was responsible for defining the national strategy, overall experience programming, production of immersive content, art and cultural merchandizing and management of multiple stakeholders. The success of the Saudi Pavillion experience resulted in high visitation numbers and also contributed to numerous awards for the pavillion. 'World Expos are no longer just about buildings, they're about meaning. Expo Design Lab helps nations tell powerful stories with precision, ambition, and authenticity. With Riyadh 2030 approaching, the time to prepare is now' added Sinha. Over the past years, Insignia has designed concept masterplans for cities, conceived guest experiences for cruises and developed new concepts and brands within the hospitality sector. Insignia's clients include PIF, Ministry of Culture, Red Sea Global, Cruise Saudi, Saudi Tourism Authority, Qiddiya, Abu Dhabi Investment Office and numerous other reputable brands and institutions. For media inquiries, please contact: Marta Rengel Email: mr@ Website: About Insignia Worldwide: Insignia Worldwide is a design and strategy consultancy dedicated to crafting culturally authentic, human‑centric destinations that connect cultures, engage communities, and stimulate commerce. The company provides integrated design and strategy services across all stages of a project's lifecycle, from vision ideation to concept development, design and activation programming. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Dubai and Riyadh, its multi-disciplinary team ranging from futurists and strategists to creatives and project leaders delivers holistic services across intelligence, planning, design, project oversight, content creation, branding, communications, and immersive activation. Insignia Worldwide has worked with some of the world's most revered and recognised brands and its projects span visionary public realm interventions, landmark biennales, luxury hospitality projects, and high‑profile world expo pavilions. Guided by Humanistics™ its proprietary design-thinking system, the company aligns strategic foresight with emotive storytelling, crafting immersive environments that inspire and endure.
Russia Today
18-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia publishes memoirs by Indonesian president
The memoirs of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have been published for the first time in Russian translation in advance of his visit to St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The book's release has been timed to coincide with the Russia-Indonesia summit this week during which a declaration on strategic partnership and several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed. The two-volume book, titled 'On the Art of Military Leadership', was written during Prabowo's tenure as Indonesia's defense minister. The work combines personal reflections on military life, leadership, and national identity. According to the Russian editors, the book offers readers insight into the mindset of a key figure from 'the world's largest Muslim-majority nation,' and illustrates Indonesia's growing global role. In the first volume, Prabowo recounts his encounters with various military figures throughout his career, emphasizing traits he considers essential for leadership. The second volume explores the character and values of notable leaders across history. Throughout the memoirs, Prabowo repeatedly refers to Indonesia's struggle for independence and his own family's role in it. The Russian publishers expressed hope that the memoirs will be of interest not only to scholars of Southeast Asia, but to a broader readership interested in historical leadership and Indonesian society. The publication has also been framed as a gesture of cultural diplomacy to support the summit, which marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and Indonesia. The summit, which is organized by Roscongress, will take place on Thursday and Friday within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which officially kicked off on Wednesday. It will focus on strengthening political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties between the two countries. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the upcoming meeting between Putin and Prabowo is expected to conclude with a short signing ceremony and a joint statement to the media. A declaration on strategic partnership is also planned, along with at least four agreements covering shipbuilding, transportation, science and education, ICT, and media cooperation.
Times of Oman
27-05-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Commemorative postage stamp inaugurated between Oman and Iran
Muscat: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, jointly inaugurated a commemorative postage stamp symbolising the profound cultural and historical ties between Oman and Iran, as well as their shared commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness, cooperation, constructive engagement, and civilizational exchange between their peoples. The ceremony took place at Al Alam Palace in Muscat, coinciding with the official visit of President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Sultanate of Oman. Sayyid Nasr bin Badr Al Busaidi, Postmaster at Oman Post, stated that this stamp embodies the deep-rooted cultural and historical connections between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran, reflecting their mutual dedication to strengthening cultural diplomacy, fostering neighbourly relations, and promoting people-to-people ties. The stamp's artistic design harmoniously blends the architectural and cultural symbols of both nations. At its centre stands the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat—an iconic landmark of Omani Islamic architecture—framed by date palms, which symbolize resilience and Oman's rich agricultural heritage, forming an integral part of the country's environmental and social identity. On the opposite side, the stamp features the historic Jameh Mosque of Bastak in southern Iran, encircled by cypress trees—a symbol of eternity and Persian visual culture—representing continuity and civilizational endurance. At the heart of the design lies a handwoven Persian carpet, inspired by the one housed in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, which was meticulously crafted in Iran's Khorasan province and adorned with intricate floral motifs. This serves as a testament to the artisanal collaboration between the two nations and a symbol of their diverse cultural connections. Through this joint artistic endeavour, both countries reaffirm their commitment to enhancing cooperation in postal services, paving the way for broader partnerships that promise mutual benefits. -ONA
