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 HE Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan
Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, HE Ahmed bin
Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA presented a collection of books written by His
Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme
Council and Ruler of Sharjah, translated into Hindi. HE Singh received the gift on
behalf of His Excellency 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.