Sharjah is set to celebrate its selection as Guest of Honour at the 25th edition of the Sao Paulo International Book Fair, which will take place from 3rd to 12th August, with a rich programme highlighting the emirate’s increasing influence on the global cultural landscape.
SAO PAULO, (Pakistan Point News - 07th Jul, 2018) Sharjah is set to celebrate its selection as Guest of Honour at the 25th edition of the Sao Paulo International Book Fair, which will take place from 3rd to 12th August, with a rich programme highlighting the emirate’s increasing influence on the global cultural landscape.
Supervised by the Sharjah Book Authority, SBA, in collaboration with 15 cultural institutions and organisations, Sharjah will organise a series of high-profile sessions, seminars and book events that will be presented by 20 Emirati authors and publishers.
The programme, which will also highlight 40 Emirati books translated into Portuguese, Brazil's official language, aims to promote meaningful insights into the heritage of the UAE and the Arab region.
The celebratory programme was unveiled during a press conference held in Sao Paulo in the presence of Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the SBA; Ibrahim Salem Al Alawi, UAE Consul General in Sao Paulo, and Luiz Antonio Torelli, President of the Brazilian Book Chamber, CBL, in addition to a number of Emirati and Arab diplomats, and Brazilian journalists.
Al Ameri highlighted Sharjah’s vision to stimulate dialogue with other cultures, communities and societies and outlined important initiatives and projects led by the emirate in the pursuit of its goals to extend bridges of communication.
He further said that the Sharjah Pavilion at the Sao Paulo Book Fair is designed to demonstrate the UAE’s literary passion to the Brazilian people and visitors from around the world through a colourful and event-packed programme, including themes on novels, theatre, poetry and creativity, folk performances, Emirati fashion shows and traditional cuisine and crafts that reflect the rich Emirati identity.
"Inspired by the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the emirate will continue to be a window not only into the UAE’s culture but also into the overall Arab and Islamic community.
"Sheikh Sultan has always underlined that knowledge, books and science are the fundamental foundations to establish a state of global understanding and tolerance.
"Choosing Sharjah as the Guest of Honour is yet another achievement that confirms the emirate’s growing stature in a worldwide cultural arena and comes after Sharjah was celebrated as the Special Guest City of Honour at the 38th edition of Paris Book Fair and named by New Delhi as Guest of Honour for its 2019 book fair," Al Ameri said.
The SBA Chairman invited Brazilian authors, publishers, designers, researchers and academics to visit the Sharjah pavilion to discuss new prospects for cooperation and joint initiatives with Emirati writers and publishers, whether through translation, authoring, printing, or other creative areas.
Citing the large-scale opportunities provided by the Sharjah Publishing City, SPC, for Brazilian writers and publishers, Al Ameri said, "The SPC will enable them to broaden their horizons in the middle East and East Asia, by leveraging its status as the first free zone for publishing in the world."
Ibrahim Salem Al Alawi, UAE Consul General in Sao Paulo, emphasised the importance of Sharjah’s participation at the book fair in strengthening the bonds between the UAE and Brazil based on cultural ties. He noted that Sharjah’s participation will also open up wider horizons for effective partnership between authors and publishers in the two friendly countries."
The President of the CBL said, "Having Sharjah as the first Guest of Honour is a great opportunity to present the richness of its wonderful, diverse culture to the visitors not just from Brazil, but from across the whole of South America and beyond. I am sure this will be just the beginning of bringing our cultures and book markets closer."
