Minister okays signing MoU for holding IFFI in Goa

Panaji, Oct 9 (UNI) Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today approved the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Centre and the Goa Government for organising the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here from November 23.

The MoU will be signed by Union I&B joint secretary Pyarelal and State special secretary Diwan Chand soon thereby formalising the process of the IFFI in Goa, chief secretary J P Singh told UNI.

The chief secretary said the government had constituted a committee, headed by himself, to finalise the list of journalists to be given accreditation for covering the event.

The chief guests for the opening and closing ceremonies will be finalised by October 27, he added.

Mr Dasmunsi, along with State and the Central officials, reviewed the arrangements and logistics for the successful conduct of the 11- day event in presence of Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane at the Secretariat complex. Later, Mr Dasmunsi told mediapersons that he was extremely happy with the preparations.

He said the authorities would finalise the list of 200 special delegates and invitees for the festival within a week and also who would inaugurate the function.

Asked whether he had received any report from the state Government wanting to organise the event on its own from next year, the Minister answered in negative. He, however, hoped that the event would continue to be held in Goa on a permanent basis because of adequate infrastructure availability.

Film Federation of India president Boney Kapoor, who also participated in the review meeting, said he had made some suggestions for improving the conduct of the festival.

Meanwhile, the Save Goa Front (SGF) has reiterated its decision to disrupt the IFFI if its demands of eliminating corruption and ''preserving Goa for the future'' were not met.

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