Sharjah:With 12 member publishers and 109 titles on display, the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) is participating in the 51st edition of Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF), being held until February 4, 2020, at the Egypt International Exhibitions Centre in Cairo. 

A unique opportunity for EPA members who have less than 20 published works under their hat and are unable to represent themselves at international book fairs in the UAE and beyond, these publishers are showcasing their offerings to businesses and visitors at EPA’s pavilion through the Manassah platform.

The Manassah platform is also an opportunity for publishers in the UAE to distribute their books on a wider regional and global scale through the exposure EPA enables them at prestigious book fairs around the world.

EPA’s participation in CIBF, which brought together 900 publishers and organisations from 38 countries, including Senegal as the Guest of Honour, is in line with its strategy to enhance its presence at cultural forums and publishing events, both within the region and internationally. The Cairo Book Fair is also serving as a platform for EPA to actively promote its initiatives to intensify the UAE publishing industry’s impact in the region, explore latest Arabic and international titles, as well as to enhance cooperation and promote the shared interests of UAE publishers with their international counterparts.

Participating publishers represented under the EPA pavilion comprised of Dar Al Ousra Media, Dragon Publishing & Distribution, Sadiqat Publishing and Distribution, Awraaq Publication and Distribution, Al Fulk Translation and Publishing, Al Enwan Book Trading, Dar Al Andalus Publishing, Jumaira Publication & Distribution, Dar Suad Salibi, Al Takhayul Media, Manarat Alullom Books Trading, and Bibliosmia Publishing & Distribution.

Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of EPA, said, “Our participation at CIBF reaffirms EPA’s commitment to build bilateral relations with regional and international publishers, promote cultural interchange, and present the quality of editorial content of Emirati and other UAE-based publishing houses.”

“The EPA pavilion is helping our member publishers establish direct communication with authors and publishers in Egypt’s publishing landscape,” he added. “Egypt is a stalwart in the publishing industry and has to its credit published works of renowned authors who have nurtured Arabic poetry, prose and theatre. By showcasing Emirati titles at such an event, our members benefited from the opportunity to network and share expertise, which will certainly offer a boost to the local publishing sector.” 

Founded in 2009, the EPA is dedicated to developing the publishing sector and representing the interests of professionals in the UAE and beyond. It promotes UAE’s cultural achievements across the Arab world and globally. It also hosts, organises and takes part in regional and international conferences, exhibitions and book fairs.