Sharjah Book Fair boosts Emirati cultural movement in Muscat

The visits, which come on the fringe of SIBF's participation in the 18th edition of the Muscat Book Fair, being held from 26 February till March 8, aimed to enhance means of cooperation and exchange expertise and views about possible ways to develop the region's cultural landscape, as well as to invite various official, cultural, and academic institutions to participate in the annual editions of the Sharjah Book Fair.

The delegation, headed by Salim Omar Salim, Head of Sales & Marketing at the SIBF, and Fadil Hussein, Vice Coordinator-General of the Sharjah International Book Fair, visited official bodies and academic institutions in Oman, namely the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Manpower, and Sultan Qaboos University, where they met with a number of officials and discussed various topics of common interest.

The SIBF delegation highlighted the great support enjoyed by the Sharjah Book Fair and the facilities offered by SIBF to support the book industry, publishers and readers alike.

The delegation invited Omani institutions to acquire their books from the Sharjah Book fair, a move that has been widely welcomed by Omani bodies, and would help enrich and supply their libraries with the latest titles offered by the publishing houses participating in the book fair, where hundreds of thousands of new titles on various topics and fields are displayed.

Speaking on the occasion, Salim Omar Salim, Head of Sales & Marketing at the SIBF, said, "SIBF is keen through its foreign participations to strengthen relations with key intellectuals and men of thought in the Gulf and regional arenas."

The visits also are in line with the SIBF's marketing plan to expand the scope of participation from various bodies in its upcoming editions, said Salim, adding that the book fair has been seeing an annual increase in the number of participants, as was clearly manifested in the 31st edition which was held last year.

"Our meetings with the Omani cultural bodies and institutions were fruitful and we exchanged ideas and various publications as we expressed our mutual desire to extend further bridges of cultural cooperation," he added.

Salim thanked the Omani officials for their efforts and warm welcome. He extended his profound thanks and appreciation to Nabhan Bin Saif Bin Salim Al Lamki, Director General of Directorate General of Curricula Development at the Ministry of Education, Dr Amal Obaid Al Mujinya, Assistant Director General for Technological Education at the Ministry of Manpower, Dr Fayzah Habeeb Juma Al Raisi, Director of Industrial relations and Technology Transfer, Dr Nabeelah Malallah Al Sadikiya, Director of Academic Affairs, and Dr Mousa Bin Nasser Al Mufaraji, Co-professor and Director of the main library at the Sultan Qaboos University.

The Sharjah Book Fair is currently participating in the 18th edition of Muscat International Book Fair, where it has displayed a strong presence evidenced by important visits paid to the SIBF stand by prominent official and literary figures, as well as an impressive response by book lovers and people interested in the publishing industry. The SIBF stand also received excellent media coverage. The Muscat Book Fair will conclude on 8 March 2013.