Shaikh Sultan attends Arab publishers' association conference

Over 300 publishing experts and authors meet to discuss challenges and opportunities.

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, on Monday attended the inauguration of the third Arab Publishers' Association Conference held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Center in Sharjah for the first time.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of the Emirates Publishers Association, gave a keynote address during the opening ceremony of the conference, which is being held under the slogan, "Publishing industry: Prospects and the challenges of the digital age".

The opening ceremony also featured Mohammed Baydoun, Secretary General of the Arab Publishers' Association (APA), Richard Charkin, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA), Engineer Ibrahim El Moallem, Chairman of Al Shorouk Group, and Lebanese novelist and story writer Elias Khoury. It was attended by over 300 experts and specialists in publishing, writing, intellectual property, libraries, and publishing law.

In her opening speech, Sheikha Bodour welcomed the guests to Sharjah, saying that the emirate, under the leadership of Shaikh Sultan, has always adopted an approach that focuses on culture, reading, knowledge, and human development, hand in hand with economic development. This focus is inspired by a guiding principle which states that productive societies are built on human development as much as they are built on economic development, she said.

Sheikha Bodour added, "The convening of this conference in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, reflects the vital role played by our government at the regional and global level, and its great efforts in supporting knowledge, science, and culture in general, and the publishing industry in particular. The UAE has been ranked first in West Asia and North Africa and 36 globally among 143 countries in the Global Innovation Index 2014 issued by Cornell University in New York, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization. This advanced position reflects the eagerness of our government to apply best practices in the fight against piracy and for the protection of intellectual property rights. This stems from the important task of building a creative environment and supporting a knowledge-based economy. This approach is one of the most important priorities of our government in 2015, which was announced as a year of innovation in the UAE."

On the challenges of intellectual property Sheikha Bodour said, "The issue of intellectual property is central to the publishing industry. It is one of the main factors that determine success in building a supportive environment for creativity and publishing. Studies have shown that countries which impose strict laws and adopt effective strategies to protect intellectual property, such as Singapore and South Korea, witness higher economic and industrial prosperity, and a more effective cultural and creative life than other countries. This contributes to enriching two main components: Culture and Economy."

Sheikha Bodour called on all stakeholders to open a serious and meaningful discussion about redefining the principle of freedom of publication, noting that international standards need to reflect the cultural diversity of all countries involved. She also invited conference members to discuss this essential matter with sufficient tolerance and flexibility, balancing the sanctity of freedom of publishing with the required respect for each nation's culture and unique nature.

Sheikha Bodour concluded by saying, "If books are truly a mirror of society, then publishing is the engine of thought. Revitalizing this sector, supporting the various elements that guarantee its prosperity and sustainability, will mean that we will be able to keep up with the daily changes, and take advantage of the opportunities behind them."

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