EPA members pledge to strengthen UAE’s position as a publishing centre

SHARJAH: The inaugural meeting of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) for the 2023-2025 electoral cycle was convened under Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the EPA.

It entailed the distribution of administrative among the board members and the induction of newly appointed members into their respective roles.

The council discussed the significance of sponsoring the publishing industry in the UAE, renewed the association’s commitment to this task, and emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation between Emirati publishers in line with their common interests. The council also highlighted the importance of providing the sector with integrated services to consolidate the UAE’s position as a regional and global publishing centre.

Al Kous lauded the efforts of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder of the EPA, for her active role in the publishing renaissance and strengthening the UAE’s position in the Arab world and internationally. He welcomed new members and wished them success in achieving the association’s vision and strategic goals for developing the UAE’s publishing sector as an influential engine for social and economic development, both locally and regionally.

Furthermore, Al-Kous reiterated the association’s appreciation to the Ministry of Community Development for their ongoing cooperation and participation in the recent general assembly meeting, which witnessed the election of new board members.

Abdullah Al Kaabi, the new EPA chairman, called upon all esteemed members to continue fulfilling the association’s aspirations. He said: “We are committed to the consistent development and advancement of the publishing sector in the UAE by strengthening cooperation between local publishers in line with their shared interests while providing a range of integrated services, training, communication, and innovative strategies to support the UAE’s publishing industry. We remain steadfast in our reliance on the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, a pioneering author, who consistently prioritises the publishing industry and Emirati publishers as a national imperative.”

The EPA board meeting entrusted Amira Boukadra from Ghaf Publications for Book Trading with the position of Vice-Chairman of the board for the upcoming two-year cycle. EPA members Muhammad bin Dukhin from Dar Al-Takhayal Media and Abdullah Al Sharhan from Dar Ajyal Publishing were elected as the secretariats of the EPA fund. Additionally, Fatima Al-Khatib from Dar Sidra Publishing Services was named as a new member of the board.