The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has received the participation of 971 publishing houses, literary agents, and rights professionals from 92 countries in the upcoming Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) Publishers Conference which will be held as a lead-up to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2022.
The high turnout in this year’s conference, an annual industry-wide event for the publishing sector, reflects SIBF’s global success as the largest book fair in the world in 2021 in terms of buying and selling copyrights.
The SIBF Publishers Conference has emerged as a robust platform for buying and selling rights, signing book deals, exploring opportunities for translations, and serving the commercial interests of the sector. The conference was launched in 2011 with a groundbreaking rights translation grant programme that has supported the translation of works across all languages. The vibrant matchmaking programme with dialogue sessions and introductory meetings has been the axis of several new connections across rights, allowing new publishers and markets to enter the fray.
SBA’s Head of Sales Mansour Al Hassani says, “In line with the directives and vision of HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the SIBF Publishers Conference assumes greater significance as a platform for regional and global publishers to network, learn, and discover innovative ways to forge a new phase of growth.”
“The year-on-year growth in the number of participants is a clear indication of the prominence and global status of both the SIBF and the Publishers Conference and reflects the strategic vision of Sharjah’s cultural project to support and boost the publishing industry in the Arab region and enhance its position on a global scale,” adds Al Hassani.
The conference will host 33 dynamic and engaging speakers who will present a vibrant and inspiring vision of the future of the publishing industry through panel discussions and keynote fireside chats, giving a comprehensive insight into the current trends, challenges, and opportunities the industry provides.
The SIBF Publishers Conference will be held at the Expo Centre Sharjah from 30 October to 1 November, 2022.
