Sharjah 24: During its participation at the 31st edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) showcased more than 70 publications by Emirati writers translated to Hindi by SBA. This cultural initiative by SBA has shined light on Sharjah’s leading efforts to support the global publishing industry as well as readers who want to discover narratives from different cultures.
On the first day of the event, which was inaugurated by Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA presented a collection of books written by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, translated into Hindi. Singh received the gift on behalf of Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, and His Excellency Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
“Sharjah's presence at the NDWBF furthers our mission to turn the spotlight on the emirate’s cultural achievements, which have positioned it as a gateway to Arab culture and civilisation, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah,” said HE Ahmed Al Ameri.
“Our goal is to bolster Sharjah’s presence at such international events, through which we can promote the emirate’s influential role in the global publishing industry, while contributing to the promotion of Arab culture in India. We also seek to develop translation projects from Arabic into Hindi, boost cross-cultural communication, and enhance cooperation between Arab and Indian cultures, in line with Sharjah's vision as one of the region’s leading cultural centers,” Al Ameri added.
During the event, SBA's delegates met with National Book Trust (NBT) representatives and a group of Indian publishers, exploring prospects for developing the publishing industry collaboratively.
The SBA educated leading publishers on the plethora of opportunities Sharjah offers to the publishing sector community, through its year-long initiatives and events that have become vibrant platforms for supporting creative industries and bringing together authors and publishers. Those include the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), Publishers Conference (PC), and National Libraries Summit (NLS), to name a few.
Furthermore, the SBA highlighted the opportunities that the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPCFZ) offers to investors in the publishing sector and creative industries. Moreover, it provided participants in the exhibition with insights into the Translation Grant, Sharjah International Literary Agency (SILA), and Arab Children's Book Publisher Forum (ACBPF), along with other opportunities that enhance cultural exchange, encourage translation, and support quality publishing initiatives.
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