The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) and the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) recently convened a meeting to explore ways to develop the publishing industry in the UAE and the Arab world, as well as strengthen the presence of Emirati publishers in the regional and global publishing arenas. The meeting aligns with both entities’ long-term strategy to enhance collaboration with other publishing entities.

Held at the SBA headquarters, the meeting was attended by the SBA Chairman, HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri; and HE Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of EPA, who discussed collaborative strategies on how to increase Sharjah’s participation at local, regional and international levels – with a strong focus on the Salon Livre Paris 2018 and the São Paulo International Book Fair 2018, at which Sharjah has been selected as the special guest of honour.Additionally, SBA’s support to publishers and investors at the recently established Sharjah Publishing City (SPC) was also discussed.

“In gearing up towards showcasing Sharjah at the Paris and São Paulo international book fairs in 2018, we seek to develop collaboration successfully with all government entities with the aim of shedding light on the unique literary prominence Sharjah has gained under the vision and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. We will also portray the developments experienced by the region’s publishing industry, and build cross-cultural bridges between Emirati authors, publishers and their counterparts in France, Brazil and the rest of the world,” said HE Ahmed Al Ameri.

For his part, HE Rashid Al Kous said: “The EPA looks forward to benefit from the wealth of experience SBA has gathered over the years through their extensive participation in cultural festivals, exhibitions and book fairs, and from their good relations with publishers from around the world. This collaboration will further the efforts of both entities in developing Sharjah’s and the UAE’s publishing sector, bring socioeconomic gains, and impact other sectors positively. It will also enable EPA members to participate outside the UAE, give them the opportunity to get deeper into the acquisition and sale of copyrights, and participate at events organised by the SBA In UAE and beyond.”

Both sides agreed that the SBA will provide the EPA a window to showcase themselves at all international book fairs through SBA’s pavilion at these events. In return, the EPA will nominate 10 publishers who will participate at the Paris Book Fair and the Sao Paulo international Book Fair 2018, and enable them to purchase and sell copyrights. The EPA will also choose 10 local books to be translated into French and Portuguese, and have them published and distributed by SBA at the two fairs, with the support of Sharjah’s 1001 Titles initiative.

The EPA will be keen to support publishers who lack the resources to participate at book fairs individually, and provide them with the opportunity to showcase and sell their publications at local events like the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) and the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF). The EPA will also engage a number of its member-publishers in the training course organised annually by SBA in collaboration with the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) to hone their skills and capabilities.

Established in 2009, the EPA seeks to serve and develop the publishing sector in the UAE. Among its principal aims is to advance the role of publishers and to build their capacity through training programmes. The EPA represents the interests of professionals in the UAE''s publishing sector and works constantly to improve the conditions and laws relating to publishing in coordination with entities relevant to publishing in the UAE and the world.