Workshop focuses on Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The 19th session of ADIBF, which was held on 17th-22nd March, 2009, had achieved great success amid a remarkable increase in the number of exhibitors participating - 637 publishing houses from 52 countries - in addition to a record turnout of more than 200,000 visitors.

The workshop also focused on the phases of progress witnessed by ADIBF's organiser KITAB, a joint project by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and the Frankfort Book Fair.

"The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair seeks to become a centre for Arab book markets in the world,"

said Jumaa Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIBF.

"But despite the great success of the Fair, we aim for more achievements for the next session of March 2010, which will witness a bigger area, longer opening hours, more programmes for book businesses and the general public. The twentieth session will be an unforgettable cultural event," he added.

Qubaisi explained that unprecedented success witnessed by ADIBF on many levels reflects the increasingly important cultural position that Abu Dhabi holds in the world.

After the participation of hundreds of publishing houses at ADIBF, Abu Dhabi has become a new attraction of the books industry, Qubaisi stressed.

The 20th session of ADIBF, held on 2nd -10th of March 2010, will involve many new activities, including a programme to train Arab publishers, which started in Abu Dhabi in July and will continue till the end of the year, and an initiative to promote reading.

Before the Fair's start, KITAB will host the 7th International Publishers Association's Copyright Symposium, on 28th of February - 1st of March, 2010.

The hosting of this Symposium is part of the commitment of KITAB towards copyrights and combating piracy in the region.

The Symposium shows that Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming a specialized platform for international publishing communities, to bring together emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and to constitute a bridge of communication and interaction between professionals from different parts of the world.