The Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) was founded in Bangkok on December 22, 1961 at the First General Assembly of Asian news agencies on the initiative of UNESCO. Organization was formed to secure direct and free exchange of news between the news agencies of a region inhabited by more than one half of the world's population.

The Asia-Pacific countries account for 56 percent of world gross product, some 50 percent of its trade turnover, over 60 percent of its maritime and nearly 25 percent of air transport volume. The world's largest financial reserves and science-intensiv e technologies are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region.

At present OANA brings together 44 news agencies from 35 countries.
OANA members are responsible for two-thirds of information circulated throughout the world.

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