Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, patronized here Sunday signing of two contracts for the services of the developed program of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and the transmission of SPA's services through satellites. The cost of the two contracts amounts to SR6.3 million. The first contract was signed by SPA's Director General Abdullah Bin Fahd Al-Hussein along with ARCOM's Director Taha Bin Ahmad Khiari. The SR3.93 million first contract stipulates maintenance and operation of systems at SPA as well as the development of the news agency's website. The program is based on the most modern international systems (asp. net) and it is characterized by accuracy and excellent performance. The components of the program include editing, surveillance, sources, archives, audio and photography channels. The second contract, signed by Abdullah Al-Hussein along with Saudi Al-Rawabit Company's Director Shuheil Bin Hamad Al-Shuheil deals with the transmission of SPA's services program through satellites. The contract is worth SR2.38 million. The contract also stipulates import of devices and programs including transmission of SPA's news and photographic services to all subscribers through satellite for the coverage of Asia, Africa and parts of Europe and East Asia. The signing ceremony was also attended by Dr. Abdullah Al-Jasser, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information and Dr. Riyad Kamal Najm, Assistant Undersecretary for engineering affairs at the ministry.
