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Empowering The Third Billion: Utilizing Women As Key Drivers Of Economic Growth |
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The Emirate of Sharjah has announced the launch of the 31st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which will be held from 7-17 November with unprecedented participation of 62 countries; including 24 countries will participate for the first time. The announcement was made during a press conference held by the Management of SIBF at the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah in the presence of a number of senior officials, intellectuals, lettermen and artists, including Mohamed Al Hawary, Counselor at the Embassy of Egypt – Abu Dhabi, whose country has been chosen as the guest of honor, Press Counselor at Consulate General of Pakistan – Dubai, Zahida Parveen, where Pakistan will be the cultural focus, Khaled Al Matroushi, Director of Events and Projects, as representative of Sharjah Media Centre, Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Information, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amri, SIBF Director, Abdul Azizi Taryam, General Manager of Etisalat, Northern Emirates, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Dr. Khalid Al Midfa, Director of Sharjah Radio and Television, as representative of Sharjah Media Corporation, as well as local and Arab media representatives. The SIBF Management has revealed the names of countries, which will participate for the first time, including Spain, Australia, Italy, Poland, Thailand, Romania, Serbia, China, Canada, Nigeria, and Greece. This year’s edition will see an increase in the participation of Arabic publishing houses from 7,600 square meters to 9,613 square meters, while foreign participation has increased from 1,600 square meters to 2,100 square meters. The 2012 Book fair will see an exceptional increase of 500 percent in the participation of Indian publishing houses, in addition to the participation of 20 Pakistani publishers for the first time. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi said: “We are honoured and delighted to join Sharjah, which is described as the “Sources of Pride” by HH Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in this annual cultural carnival which represents a panel for fellow cultural elites and intellectuals.” “As part of Sharjah Media Centre’s mission of extending full support and providing media facilities and services to the Emirate of Arab Culture, we are pleased and honoured to seize the opportunity to announce our strategic partnership with the 31st Sharjah International Book Fair as a media partner during this press conference,” Al Qassimi added in his speech, which was delivered on his behalf by Khalid Al Matrooshi. He continued: “The media centre, which we prepared especially for the SIBF, provides various media services and is equipped with the latest technologies to facilitate media work and ensure an ideal working environment for journalists, during their coverage of the 31st Sharjah International Book Fair. The Sharjah Media Centre will host more than 30 journalists from all over the world to cover this important event, which is considered as one of the world’s major cultural events and book fairs.” “Inspired by the directives and visions of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the sincere supporter of the Emirate’s blessed prosperity, we inaugurate the 31st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair,” SIBF Director Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amri said during a press conference. “His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah is always eager to inaugurate the book fair personally and annually and closely follow up the various cultural programs, dialogues and panel discussions that run alongside the book fair, apart from his own contributions to the book fair as a man of many words who has authored several books to guide researchers and knowledge seekers to enrich their knowledge about geography, history, drama, and narration,” Al Amri said. He added “The growing level of participation as well as the selection of high standard and unique publishers participating this year are a measure of the reputation of the Sharjah International Book Fair. As is also an indicated by the major diversity in exhibited paper and digital books and digital multimedia programmes present at this year’s fair. With this major leap, we step into modern the world without comprising our Arab-Islamic identity and rich culture, which will contribute significantly to global human culture.” SIBF’s Management welcomed the book fair’s guests during the press conference, which include an elite group of prominent Arab authors and lettermen, such as Egyptian Minister of Culture Mohammed Saber Arab, and Algerian novelist Ahlam Mostaghanmi, and the participation of high-profile artists, namely renowned Egyptian comedian Adel Imam, and famous actor Yehya Al Fakhrani. There will be also be a number of high profile non-Arab authors, like Graffin Aslar, Robert Lacey, William Hamilton, and Arundhati Roy, Indian author and winner of the Man Booker International Prize, among others. SIBF praised the role of sponsors of the book fair, including Etisalat, Sharjah Media Corporation, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Expo Centre-Sharjah and Sharjah Media Center. The 10-day book fair will include a host of events and activities featuring cultural, children’s and culinary programmes which will take place at Celebrations Hall, Book Forum, Literary Forum, Cultural Hall, and Thought Hall. The events will be organized by the Department of Culture and Information, the Arab Forum for Publishers of Children’s Books, the Emirates Publishers Association, the Sheikh Zayed Book Prize, the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable work, the Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Jallawy Centre for Islamic Research and Studies, and the UAE Board on Books for the Young People, in cooperation with Gota Centre and Al Forqan Centre-London. The 10-day Book fair will feature events and activities, including presentation of awards, especially the cultural personality of the year which will be given this year to Emirati poet and writer Habib Al Sayegh, Sharjah awards for Emirati publishing houses and books and the best printed book and the best foreign book about economy. The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature will be presented along with other awards on the first day of the book fair. Poetry and cultural evenings, seminars, lectures, musical evenings and book reading will be held on the sidelines of the book fair. Also, political, literary, philosophic, intellectual, historical, cinematic, art, and Islamic related events will be held alongside the major book fair event. A book signing by authors, poets, intellectuals, and journalists will also take place as part of the book fair’s rich programme. |
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