Mumbai: Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) and All India Radio (AIR) will cooperate in radio coverage of Amsterdam India Festival in English. This festival of Indian art and culture is the largest ever presented in the Netherlands. The Dutch-Indian cultural event will be aired nationwide in India and worldwide by RNW.

The theme of the festival is Blended Cultures, in reference to the enormous diversity of cultures which co-exist in India and also in Amsterdam.

Commentaries, interviews and reports of performances will give listeners an insight into the events as they happen. All India Radio will broadcast these contributions in their network programming, reaching a potential of 350 million listeners in India. Through its vast network of 229 broadcast centers AIR covers an area of more than 90% of the country.

RNW has recently been actively establishing partnerships with local Indian broadcasters. With this cooperative venture, RNW and AIR have paved the way for a future in which they can exchange and combine even more journalistic, cultural and technical know-how.

RNW’s director general Jan Hoek explained, "Radio Netherlands Worldwide works together with thousands of radio stations all over the world which broadcast our programmes. Increasingly we see stations keen to work with us on co-productions. It is a gratifying further step that the major radio broadcaster in India has also recognized the added value of our expertise."

Prasar Bharati/ AIR CEO B.S. Lalli declared, "We at All India Radio are pleased to be associated with Radio Netherlands Worldwide to cover the India festival which is taking place in Amsterdam. It gives us a chance, I hope, to develop joint programming in days to come. It is indeed a good start and we look forward to a larger cooperation between us in future."