New opportunities in Arab publishing industry highlighted at special roundtable meeting with publishers in Germany
December 08, 2009
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has announced that it has recently completed a short tour in Europe to promote emerging opportunities in Arab literature and generate awareness about the upcoming Dubai International Children’s Book Fair. Jamal Al Shehhi, CEO of the Dubai International Children’s Book Fair, conducted a special presentation about the Dubai Book Fair and the Arab book and publishing market during a roundtable meeting with European publishers and agents in Munich, Germany.
The special presentation in Munich also focused on the main objective of Dubai International Children’s Book Fair to cultivate the reading habits of Arab children by enhancing the quality of children’s literature in the region. The campaign drew a positive response from several European publishers and agents, who have been attracted by the new business tools and support facilities being offered by Dubai International Children’s Book Fair.
Jamal Al Shehhi said: “Arab children’s literature represents significant growth opportunities for the publishing industry and it is our goal to encourage international publishers to contribute in developing and enhancing the quality of literary work in this niche market. The presentation and networking activities we have conducted helped us establish strong links with European publishers, writers and agents who are keen to offer their ideas and explore various creative projects in Arab children’s literature. Moreover, several European publishers are now very keen to participate in the Dubai International Children’s Book Fair.”
Dubai International Children’s Book Fair, which will debut from 3-10 February 2010 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is a dedicated exhibition and conference established by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to support the development of children’s literature in the Arab World. The Book Fair will gather teachers, parents, librarians, reader development experts, children’s literature scholars and publishers, who will participate in brainstorming sessions to discover fresh, innovative ways to produce new reading materials for Arab children.
Regional and international publishers can also take advantage of the business tools and support facilities being offered at the Dubai book fair, enabling them to identify new business leads and initiate new projects in children’s publishing in the Arab World. In addition, to cater to diverse visitor and exhibitor profiles, the groundbreaking trade event will incorporate various exciting segments such the Reader Development Conference, which will focus on sharing best international practices in promoting reading; the International Rights Trading Centre, which will serve as the exhibition’s trading hub; a Creativity Centre, which will showcase educational and entertainment programmes for children and their families; and the Children’s Bookshop, which will offer an ideal set-up for a children’s bookstore and will serve as the only selling venue at the Fair.
Dubai International Children’s Book Fair’s participation at the roundtable meeting in Munich is part of a series of promotional road shows organised in conjunction with several regional and international book fairs. The Dubai book fair has also been showcased at the Sharjah World Book Fair 2009, Kuwait International Book Fair 2009, Frankfurt Book Fair, Bologna Children’s Book Fair and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
