Sharjah:The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) has maintained its status as the world's largest fair for buying and selling copyrights for the sixth year in a row. This achievement underscores Sharjah's prominent role as a global hub connecting publishers and literary agents with opportunities to negotiate book and translation rights.
According to Emirates News Agency, the milestone was achieved following the conclusion of the 16th Sharjah International Publishers Conference. The event facilitated 7,980 professional meetings for publishing and translation rights over two days, marking a significant increase from the previous year's 3,321 meetings. These meetings were organized through a dedicated electronic system and brought together 1,888 publishers from 126 countries.
The conference included matchmaking meetings, 30 specialized roundtables, and programs for professional exchange with industry leaders. Discussions addressed changes in the publishing sector and collaboration opportunities between global book markets. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), highlighted the event's role in strengthening Arab culture and promoting international cultural exchange.
Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, noted that the conference focused on helping publishers build partnerships through exposure to international practices and direct negotiations. The first day featured 30 roundtables discussing content rights, adaptation for films, and expansion into international markets, among other topics.
The conference introduced the Global Exchange program, bringing together publishers and experts to discuss collaboration opportunities and challenges. The event also featured the PublisHer Lounge for workshops and mentoring sessions, and included a delegation from the United Kingdom organized by the British Council.
