Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of the Emirates Publishers Association, EPA, Member of the Executive Committee of the International Publishers Association, IPA, and Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, has said that there are significant opportunities for the development and prosperity of the publishing sector in the region, but that more effort and work should be done for the development of the Arab publishing industry.

Speaking during the Frankfurt Book Fair, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said that technological advances in the publishing field, such as the popular use of electronic and audio books and the development of digital technologies, are new and dynamic opportunities that should be appropriately employed in the publishing industry in the UAE.

She said, "Since the establishment of EPA, the publishing industry has seen significant and remarkable advancements in the past few years, accompanied by significant cultural mobility across the country. We have managed to advance the publishing sector through training and motivating UAE publishers, providing care to workers in the field of publishing, improving the conditions and laws related to the profession in the UAE, and cooperating with local institutions involved in publishing, printing, and distribution. The EPA is also active in defence of publishers' rights and the protection of intellectual property rights."

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi added that the UAE has the ability to continue to make progress in the publishing sector particularly due to the advanced service infrastructure and the continuously updated laws that regulate the sector. We have supportive laws that appeal to Arab and foreign investors in the publishing sector," she added. "The EPA has played a key role in the development of the sector in the UAE through representing Emirati publishers in local, regional and international exhibitions, and providing the necessary requirements to improve the industry. Each year, new Emirati publishing houses and independent publishers join the Association. We now see the specialization of a sizable number of new publishing houses, which is a healthy and promising phenomenon."

The 3rd Arab Publishers Conference is set to be held in Sharjah on November 2nd and 3rd, and as the Founder and Patron of EPA, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said, "As hosts of the conference, we will shed light on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today and through dialogue, panel discussions and workshops, find solutions, possibilities and opportunities to advance the publishing sector in the Arab region."

The conference, being held under the theme "Publishing Industry: Prospects and Challenges of the Digital Age" will bring together various experts and specialists from around the world to discuss issues related to libraries, education, property rights, digital piracy, electronic distribution, freedom of publication, translation, and content development. Sessions dedicated to networking and relationship building will be held during the conference, in addition to professional meetings between participants in the conference.
Source: WAM