Sharjah:The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) has taken significant steps to bolster the Emirati publishing sector by signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Sharjah Media Council and Publishing 3.0+ during the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). These agreements aim to support local publishers and enhance the industry's competitiveness on both regional and international fronts.
According to Emirates News Agency, the MoU with the Sharjah Media Council is designed to offer benefits and facilities that aid Emirati publishers, simplify procedures, and enhance access to relevant services. In addition, it seeks to organize joint awareness initiatives. Meanwhile, the MoU with Publishing 3.0+ focuses on initiating a pilot translation program between Chinese and Arabic, broadening content exchange, rights management, and fostering commercial cooperation. This partnership also aims to connect publishers from the UAE, Hong Kong, and mainland China.
In line with its mission to fortify professional cooperation, the EPA hosted a meeting with the Arab Publishers' Association's board and representatives from various publishers' associations. This gathering provided a platform to discuss critical issues affecting the sector and explore strategies to support Emirati publishers' interests and boost their presence within the Arab publishing landscape.
Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, highlighted that these new partnerships will assist publishers in streamlining procedures and exploring new translation tools, thereby enabling them to access promising markets. He also underscored the significance of industry dialogue and knowledge exchange in building a robust and influential publishing industry both domestically and internationally.
