Emirates Publishers Association holds series of local and international meetings

In keeping with the spirit of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2010, the Emirates Publishers Association recently held a series of meetings with member publishing houses and authorities concerned with the publishing sector both locally and internationally.

The main focus of these meetings revolved around authorship and publishing rights, intellectual property rights, copyrights, and other topics related to the Emirates Publishers Association.

H.E. Sheikha Budour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association, met with the Association’s board members to discuss past and present accomplishments as well as future plans. This was in light of the exposure the Association has had to international publishing houses and local and international organizations concerned with the publishing sector, authorship, intellectual property rights, etc. They also discussed future participations in worldwide book fairs such as the Bologna Book Fair, which is taking place from 22 – 26 March 2010, as well as their participation in various seminars and workshops.

During a meeting with the president and members of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFFRO), Al Qasimi discussed possible future cooperation in terms of the spreading of awareness around copyright issues in the Arab World.

Furthermore, Al Qasimi held a meeting with Fawzi Al Jabiri, Head of Publishing and Authorship Rights and Fatema Khalaf Al Hosany, Director Trademark Department, at the Ministry of Economy, to review the Association’s latest accomplishments, as well as to discuss recommendations issued during the 7th IPA Copyright Symposium. Al Qasimi also held a meeting with the Ministry of Culture to review mutual initiatives and the development of future social and cultural activities, which was attended by Dr. Habib Ghulom, Head of Educational and Social Activities at the Ministry of Culture and Mr. Ahmed Al Haddabi, Head of the Libraries Section at the Ministry.

Concluding the series of meetings, the Emirates Publishers Association held a general assembly meeting with attendances by committee members and media representatives, where a documentary movie was shown reciting the Association’s accomplishments in the year since its inception.

Al Qasimi said during the opening ceremony:

“A year ago, we celebrated the establishment of the Emirates Publishers Association, which hosted only a few publishing houses at the time. Now, a year has passed and the Emirates Publishers Association is shining with 50 members, numerous accomplishments, and various international participations and memberships, despite the Association’s relatively short existence.”

“It is clear how the Emirates Publishers Association has contributed to the publishing sector in the UAE, and how it has helped overcome challenges facing the sector, including preserving intellectual property rights, combating piracy and spreading awareness around the intellectual and literary products of authors – all of this has had a huge impact. Joining the International Publishers Association was also a highlight for the Emirates Publishers Association, as it helped support the Association’s local and international activities while enabling the Association to learn from the experience of the international publishing sector.

“Furthermore, participating in numerous local and international conferences and meetings with various authorities concerned with the publishing sector has given the Association the exposure it needs and has helped us enter the international publishing sector and establish a strong reputation, which we will work hard at to enhance through future activities,”

added Al Qasimi.

Established on February 25th, 2009, the Emirates Publishers Association is a public benefit establishment headquartered in Al Qasba, Sharjah, and is active in the UAE. The Association caters to the needs and development of the publishing sector in the UAE.