Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone), a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the world’s first specialised book printing and publishing free zone, is gearing up to participate in the 38^th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which runs from October 30 to November 9, 2019 at Sharjah Expo Centre.

In keeping with its objective of developing the publishing sector in the region and its commitment to forging strategic partnerships with a community of publishing experts, SPC Free Zone seeks to boost the profile of the publishing industry in the UAE through its presence at SIBF 2019, which will host the world’s leading authors, publishers, editors, designers, printers, marketers and distributors.

Salim Omar Salim, Director of SPC Free Zone, said: “With more than 2,000 publishers from 81 countries, 173 authors and over 987 cultural activities, this year’s edition of SIBF celebrates the emirate’s recognition as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2019, and furthers its position as one of the most prominent global book events.”

“Sharjah’s rise as a cultural beacon of the region and its prominence as a centre of knowledge and innovation stems from the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to foster an environment built on the foundation of books and reading,” he added.

Held under the theme, ‘Open Books. Open Minds.’, SIBF 2019 offers “a valuable opportunity to share expertise and exchange knowledge in the publishing field,” said Salim. “This year, 198 UAE publishers will be at SIBF, the largest contingent ever to represent the nation. I urge the Emirati publishers to make use of this historic opportunity to promote Emirati books, reach out to a larger number of readers across age groups and cultures, and to utilise the platform to network and connect with the regional and international publishers.”

For SPC Free Zone, participation at SIBF 2019 will round off what has been a momentous year for the emirate in the publishing world that saw it participate in many of the world’s leading publishing events. At Frankfurt International Book Fair (FIBF), the world’s largest book fair, it conducted a series of panel discussions and meetings with key German and European publishers to showcase its leading expertise in supporting publishers in the UAE and the region.

Sharjah was the guest of honour at the Liber International Book Fair – Madrid 2019 where SPC free zone showcased its unique services and facilities aimed at supporting and advancing the UAE’s publishing sector, and hosted meetings with representatives of Spanish publishers and free zones.

At the Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF) where Sharjah was a ‘Guest City’, SPC Free Zone was part of the Sharjah Pavilion that heard discussions by Emirati authors, intellectuals and cultural figures.

For more than four decades now, the emirate of Sharjah has been consolidating its position in the local and global cultural landscape through an array of initiatives and projects. Investment in cultural and educational pursuits is therefore high on the list of priorities for Sharjah, and SPC Free Zone was established as a conduit of investment into creating a thriving book industry in the world. Today, Sharjah has emerged as the region’s key publishing hub and the services of the SPC Free Zone focused on supporting the publishing sector, is an important pillar in strengthening the cultural movement. The establishment of this specialised free zone is also in keeping with the overall mission of the SBA to foster investment and growth in the publishing and printing sector within the UAE and the international community.