British Council and Sharjah Book Fair host seminar

The British Council, in association with Sharjah Book Fair, will hold a three-day publishing seminar at the Sharjah Rotana Hotel from 9th-11th December 2007, for around 25 leading
publishers from the Arab World, who are planning to attend the London Book Fair (14th-16th April 2008).

The seminar is being held as part of
the British Council programme for the London Book Fair, which is this year (2008 event) hosting the Arab World as the guest of Honour.

The aim of the Sharjah seminar is to provide publishers in the region with an opportunity to meet UK specialists, benefit from training and
learn more about the London Book Fair, where will be able to meet international editors, publishers, agents and representatives.

The Sharjah seminar will be the second after the successful event held in Damascus in September and it is especially customised to meet the
Middle East region's needs.

Yara Moualla, Arts Project Manager for the British Council UAE, comments: "For the first time in its history, the London Book Fair will
host the Arab World as its guest of honour and the Sharjah seminar will be particularly helpful for the regional publishers attending the event.
The seminar will take the form of workshops delivered by four UK publishing experts who will coach the Arab publishers on the structure
of the international publishing industry and on using international book fairs to market Arab publications effectively. The group will also have the chance to learn from each other about the publishing opportunities in the UK and the Arab World."

The London Book Fair Market Focus programme highlights the publishing industry from a country or territory, providing opportunities for international business. The 2008 Market Focus programme will aim to strengthen cultural relations with the Arab World, educate the global publishing industry about Arab literature and allow the Arab publishers to promote their books and literature to all parts of the world via the fair.

A three day cultural programme celebrating the strength and diversity of Arabic literature will be run by the London Book Fair and the British
Council working in partnership as part of the Market Focus 2008. It will consist of a series of talks, discussions, debates and workshops aimed at encouraging collaboration between UK and Arab publishers and translators. Current trends in contemporary Arabic literature will be
introduced to a UK audience through a showcase of some of the best writers and writing from the Arabic world.

Susanna Nicklin, Director of Literature, The British Council adds: "The British Council is delighted to play a part in bringing together two groups of writers and publishers who are working with two of the world's great languages. Our aim is for more readers of English and Arabic to learn from and about each other through the supple and transformational medium of the written word."

The Cultural Programme at the London Book Fair is part of an on-going literature strategy developed by the British Council which aims to
increase links between writers, publishers, organisations, and cultural agencies across the Arab speaking world and the UK. Other initiatives include training for UK publishers and Arab publishers in how to do business across cultural, linguistic and economic barriers; showcasing Arab writers in the UK and UK writers in the Arab world and translation and distribution initiatives.

Dr. Mohamad Abdel Latif Talaat, President of the Arab Publishers' Association comments: "The opportunity that the LBF is providing us
through the emphasis on the Arab Publishing Industry in the Arab World Market Focus Programme is an important step to enhance the bi-lateral cultural relations between the Arab World and Britain in order to better
understand each other and to benefit from the business opportunity provided. Thank you to LBF and the British Council."