The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) reaffirmed the emirate’s status as a leading global cultural hub during its participation in the ongoing 38th Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) in Mexico. Through strategic meetings, the authority explored collaboration opportunities and highlighted the unique cultural heritage of Sharjah and the Arab world.
During the event, SBA’s delegation, led by HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, met with Marisol Schulz Manaut, General Director of FIL. The meeting focused on collaboration between Sharjah and Mexico in publishing and distribution, building stronger connections with the Sharjah International Book Fair, and facilitating the introduction of Arabic culture to wider audiences.
As part of its commitment to advancing international cultural cooperation, the SBA delegation met with José Manuel, Executive Director of the Spanish Publishers Association in Madrid. The discussions focused on fostering stronger cultural ties between Sharjah and Madrid, including plans to formalise collaboration through an MoU, which covers key areas such as publishing, translation, and broader cultural initiatives to enhance partnerships with prominent cultural institutions and promote the exchange of expertise and joint projects within the publishing sector.
Aligned with the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), an initiative launched by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, the Authority facilitated the participation of graduates from the inaugural cohort of its Launch Track training programme in FIL. This opportunity allowed participants to explore Latin American literary works and evaluate prospects for translating them into Arabic, enriching cultural dialogue between the Arab world and Latin America.
