Sharjah Book Authority Promotes Publishing City at Kuwait Book Fair

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is focusing on the Sharjah Publishing City (SPC), the recently opened free zone dedicated to the publishing industry worldwide, at the 42nd edition of Kuwait International Book Fair, which is taking place from November 15-25, and features 479 exhibitors from 30 Arab and foreign countries.

The SBA’s participating stand at the fair was visited by numerous senior officials, most notably HE Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Information, who commended the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in supporting the cultural sphere at the regional and international levels, and enhancing fraternal relations between the UAE and Kuwait. He also highlighted the importance of developing joint collaboration between the two countries to further the excellence of Arab culture and promote it worldwide.

HE Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, said: “Our participation in GCC and Arab book fairs is a priority in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to bolster ties of cooperation and partnership with cultural, art and publishing institutions in Arab countries, with the aim of promoting Arabic culture on a wider global scale.”

Al Ameri highlighted that SBA is making best use of its participation in the Kuwait Book fair to promote SPC, which offers Arab publishers a window into book markets across the world through its world-class services and high-end facilities for professionals in the publishing sector, including publishing houses, literary agencies, printing organisations and distribution companies, all under one roof.

On the sideline of its participation at Kuwait International Book Fair, SBA conducted a series of meetings with participating publishers, officials in charge of cultural institutions and other senior figures involved in cultural work. These touched on ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides and discussed participation in the upcoming edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, which will take place April 18-28, 2018.

Also at the fair, SBA distributed the first issue of its new magazine, Publishers Weekly Arabic, which has been launched in cooperation with the prestigious American Publishers Weekly, to visitors to its stand. It also distributed application forms for the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) awards, the Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations, the SIBF Translation Grant, and the Turjuman Award, the largest of its kind in the world.

Established in December 2014, SBA is dedicated to encouraging investment in the creative industries and facilitating knowledge and intellectual exchange between people from different cultures. The organisation is tasked with highlighting the significant role of writers and their influence in promoting community awareness in view of present day technological advancements and the diversity of knowledge sources.

SBA aims to attract relevant bodies and figures operating in the cultural sector in general and in the realm of book publishing, printing, translation and documentation in particular.