Sharjah24: As part of its ongoing mission to strengthen inter-cultural dialogue and advance the global publishing industry through increased collaboration, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) showcased 58 Russian translations of notable Emirati titles at the 34th Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF).

SBA delegates at the cultural event held discussions with Russian authors and publishers to explore cooperation opportunities and apprised them of the various activities undertaken by the authority to encourage and advance the creative industry.

The SBA pavilion, which welcomed large numbers of visitors, highlighted the services and facilities of the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) and drew attention to the upcoming events on the cultural calendar of the emirate including the 40th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), and the fair’s professional programme comprising the Sharjah International Library Conference and SIBF Publishers Conference. The Sharjah International Literary Agency (SILA), launched by SBA to facilitate communication among publishers, authors, translators and creatives, and regulate their operations, was also introduced. 

The SBA delegation held discussions with Sergei Kakin, MIBF director, to collaborate on joint cultural initiatives and programmes.

The SBA delegation also met with members of the Publishers Association of Russia to discuss the scope of enhancing Russia's presence at the upcoming editions of SIBF and Sharjah Children's Reading Festival's and explore further opportunities for increasing output of translations in both Arabic and Russian.

Mansour Al Hassani, Head of Sales Department at SBA, said: "SBA’s participation at the Moscow International Book Fair stems from the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to build cultural bridges, and exchange knowledge and expertise with international counterparts to support and advance the publishing sector."
He added: "SBA showcased the latest translations of prominent Emirati titles to visitors at the Moscow fair, reviewed the latest advancements in the sector, and gained insight into the newly published titles. We also led discussions on ways to advance the publishing industry with Russian and international publishers to emphasise and bolster the role of books in advancing the knowledge of people."
MIBF, one of the largest book fairs held annually in Moscow, hosted 300 public events, including book signing ceremonies and panel discussions, and brought together more than 200 publishers worldwide to take part in virtual and on-ground activities at the Expo Center in the Russian capital.