The third International Booksellers Conference will be held on April 27–28 in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The conference brings together booksellers, distributors, and publishers from the region and around the world for discussions of business issues and best practices.
The conference will be held at the Expo Centre Sharjah and will offer a variety of keynote speeches, roundtables, and workshops led by booksellers, publishers, and publishing experts. The event will address challenges in the book market, explore opportunities presented by advancements digital technology, and discuss the latest trends in bookselling.
"The conference exemplifies the Sharjah Book Authority's (SBA) dedication to enhancing the publishing industry," Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson of the SBA, said. "It will provide an exceptional forum for discussing pivotal industry issues, enabling networking, fostering partnerships, exploring new business avenues, and exchanging valuable insights."
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, emphasized that "the conference embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide all the elements that reinforce the emirate's status as a global cultural hub and a centre for events supporting the book industry, including publishing and distribution, and facilitating access to knowledge sources." He added that "the Sharjah Book Authority is dedicated to bolstering the publishing sector and assisting book distributors, particularly within the Arab world. This endeavor mirrors the emirate's deep commitment to the Arab cultural initiative and its portrayal in global arenas."
The two previous editions of the Sharjah Booksellers Conference attracted more than 200 professionals, with numerous representatives from Africa, Europe, India and the Middle East. A similar, if not greater, number are expected this year.
