SHARJAH, 6th March, 2023 (WAM) – The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) participated in the 31st edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), showcasing over 70 publications by Emirati writers translated into Hindi. This cultural initiative aimed to promote cross-cultural communication and support the global publishing industry.
On the event's first day, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the SBA, presented a collection of books written by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, translated into Hindi to Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, India's Minister of State for External Affairs and Education. Singh received the gift on behalf of Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, and Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
According to Al Ameri, the SBA's participation in NDWBF highlighted Sharjah's role as a cultural gateway to Arab culture and civilisation and its vision as one of the region's leading cultural centers. The SBA aims to promote Sharjah's presence at international events and develop translation projects from Arabic into Hindi.
During the event, the SBA's delegates met with representatives from the National Book Trust (NBT) and Indian publishers to explore prospects for developing the publishing industry collaboratively. The SBA also provided insights into the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPCFZ), Translation Grant, Sharjah International Literary Agency (SILA), Arab Children's Book Publisher Forum (ACBPF), and other opportunities that enhance cultural exchange, encourage translation, and support quality publishing initiatives.
The SBA's year-long initiatives and events, including the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), Publishers Conference (PC), and National Libraries Summit (NLS), have become vibrant platforms for supporting creative industries and bringing together authors and publishers.