Government forms group to promote publishing

The UAE Publishers Association will support and develop publishing firms across the nation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The Government yesterday announced the formation of a group to promote and protect the interests of book publishers. The UAE Publishers Association, which will be based in Sharjah, will support and develop publishing firms across the nation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs. "The purpose of the association is to represent the UAE publishers locally and internationally, develop the publishing profession in the UAE, protect the interests of UAE publishers, co-operate with local bodies working in the fields of publishing, printing and distribution and participate in domestic and overseas publishing exhibitions, conferences and forums," the ministry said, according to the state news agency, WAM.

"We will do everything in our power to support and develop the publishing industry in the UAE and deal with the aspirations of UAE intellectuals," said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qassimi, chairwoman of the association's founding committee. The publishers association will support the publication of UAE books "and will participate in all gatherings that will enrich the Arabic intellect in general and the Emirati intellect in particular ... propose ideas and visions to support UAE books and will eliminate the obstacles that stand in the way of developing the UAE publishing industry."

The group will also take part in international book fairs in Britain, the US, Frankfurt, Poland, Egypt and Lebanon. One UAE publisher will be granted an all-expenses paid visit to each overseas fair, Sheikha Bodour said. The association will offer UAE publishers scholarships for courses at Oxford Brookes University. @Email:[e-mail]