The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), is continuing its participation in the 23rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair, which will conclude on Sunday.
The nine-day New Delhi World Book Fair has seen a monumental participation by hundreds of publishers from Southeastern Asian countries and other nations all over the world, with the largest ever attendance of authors, intellectuals and official figures from India and beyond.
The Emirate of Sharjah is taking part in the 2015 New Delhi World Book Fair with a joint stand by the SBA and the SIBF, in the presence of a delegation led by Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, and included Mohan Kumar, External Affairs Executive at SBA, as well as Faisal Al Naboodah, Sales Officer - International.
Dr. Ashok Gupta, President of the Federation of Indian Publishers - affiliated to the Indian Ministry of Human Resources Development - had a meeting with the Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority. Dr. Gupta highlighted the considerable importance of the SIBF in connecting the Indian community in the UAE with Indian authors, allowing them easy access to Indian language books as well as introducing Arab readers to Indian authors and literati through the rich programme of events and activities held alongside the fair.
He stated that the Sharjah Book Fair has become a powerful bridge for intercultural communication between the East and the West, continuously increasing in importance for Indian publishers and intellectuals throughout the world in terms of their involvement in a book fair held outside India.
Ahmed Al Ameri also met with Ramesh K. Mittal, President of the Indian Government Organisation "Capexil ", dedicated to supporting the participation of Indian institutions, including publishers, in book events held outside India. The organisation has more than 500 registered Indian publishing houses.
Mittal noted that the organisation provides support to Indian publishers for taking part in foreign book fairs, with the Sharjah International Book Fair at the forefront of international book fairs. He emphasised that the organisation supports and encourages Indian publishers to join in the Sharjah International Book Fair, praising facilities offered by the Emirate of Sharjah in this area.
Apart from official figures, the SIBF exhibit saw an unprecedented turnout by Indian publishers, authors and intellectuals, as well as fellow exhibitors and visitors, markedly a dignitary from Singapore - the Guest of Honour at this year's edition of the New Delhi Book Fair, and South Korea's Publishers Association, noted for their impressive stand at the fair.
Source: WAM