The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) has concluded its participation in the 40thedition of Sharjah International Book Fair(SIBF) where it networked with key Arab and international delegations to forge new commercial connections and discuss ways to support the publishing sector with industry stakeholders.

The association’s activities at SIBF 2021 included hosting 14 book-signing sessions for 7 EPA members,organising a workshop on publishing rights, and unveiling the brand identity of its Menassah Distribution Company.

Exchange of expertise

The EPA met with delegations representing publishers and institutions from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, and the UK, in addition to the Arab Publishers Association, Nelson Group, local and international retailers and a number of local institutions and bodies. The meetings discussed investment opportunities and exchanging expertise between Emirati publishers and their counterparts  worldwide.

The EPA also unveiled the logo, vision and brand identity of the Menassah Distribution Company, which had been launched in May 2021 following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to boost the entry of UAE publishers into regional and international markets.

According to the vision statement EPA released for Menassah,it seeks to position the distribution company as the leading provider of Arabic language books in the region to boost the culture of readership in the Arab world and internationally and reinforce the vision of Sharjah’s cultural project. The new company will also provide integrated services to writers, publishers as well as readers in the UAE and the Arab world, encompassing editing, design, marketing, production and distribution.

Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of EPA, said SIBF 2021 presented a valuable opportunity for the association to showcase the output of Emirati publishers and to learn about the latest trends in the sector through networking with Arab and international peers participating in the 11-day book fair.

He lauded SIBF’s emergence this year as the world’s largest book fair in terms of buying and selling copyrights, due to the untiring efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

The EPA’s participation in the 40th edition of SIBF, which concluded on Saturday, included showcasing the works of 13 EPA members through its Manassah platform.

Founded in 2009, the EPA is dedicated to developing the publishing sector and representing the interests of professionals in the UAE and beyond. It promotes UAE’s cultural achievements across the Arab world and globally. It also hosts, organises and takes part in regional and international conferences, exhibitions and book fairs.