Post a comment The Government of India, through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has launched a 10-day Familiarization Visit for Foreign Media Editors and Journalists aimed at strengthening international media cooperation and enhancing participants’ understanding of India’s governance structures, development priorities, cultural heritage and strategic institutions.
The familiarization programme, which runs from 13 to 22 January 2026, is being implemented by the MEA’s External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division, coordinated through the External Language Media Section, and covers key locations including New Delhi, Agra, and Mumbai. It is designed to provide visiting journalists with direct exposure to India’s policy-making environment, institutional development and cultural identity, while also promoting professional exchanges between India and participating countries.
According to the High Commission of India in Freetown, Sierra Leone is represented by a delegation of three prominent media professionals: Alhaji Manika Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ); Amin Kef (Ranger), Managing Editor of The Calabash Newspaper and Thomas Dixon, Managing Editor of The New Age Newspaper.
The delegation is participating alongside editors and journalists from Africa and other regions as part of a wider effort to strengthen relations between journalists from Central and West Africa and their counterparts in India.
The initiative, observers say, reflects India’s growing commitment to using media engagement and public diplomacy to promote mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people ties. It also seeks to build lasting networks between professionals in the media space through collaboration, training opportunities and institutional partnerships.
Prior to their departure, the Sierra Leonean journalists held an engagement with India’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. B. C. Pradhan, who interacted with the group and formally welcomed the opportunity for strengthened cooperation through this exchange programme. The engagement was described as a symbolic start to what is expected to be a valuable and informative visit.
Reacting to the invitation, Amin Kef (Ranger) expressed appreciation to the Government of India and the High Commissioner for the opportunity. He said the visit would allow the delegation to gain deeper insights into India’s diversity, cultural heritage and development progress, while also strengthening professional ties.
In a press release dated 12 January 2026, SLAJ confirmed that its President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, departed Sierra Leone for India on an official invitation extended through the Indian High Commission. SLAJ said the visit will include engagements with major media institutions and key stakeholders, with discussions expected on media development support, training and exchange programmes.
Speaking ahead of his departure, Alhaji Manika Kamara described the visit as a platform for partnership and learning, noting that such international networks are essential for strengthening journalism’s role in promoting democracy and development.
The official schedule shows that activities began in New Delhi on 14 January, including visits to institutions such as the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), alongside meetings with senior Government officials and cultural engagements.
The programme also features visits to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Asian News International (ANI) and the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), as well as a cultural experience at the National Museum. A major highlight is the Agra tour on 17 January, with planned visits to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
The final leg of the visit in Mumbai includes engagements with the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The visit will conclude on 22 January 2026, with participants departing from Mumbai.
Analysts believe the programme will strengthen media relations, improve understanding and create new opportunities for collaboration between Indian institutions and foreign media professionals.
