The UAE Pavilion at the Bangkok International Book Fair, one of the largest book fairs in South and East Asia, attracted a large number of visitors from members of the public and participants during its first day. The UAE is participating as a Guest of Honour in the fair.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand visited the UAE Pavilion following the opening of the fair on Thursday, and was received by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of the Emirates Publishers Association, Head of the UAE’s delegation to the Bangkok Book Fair, and HE Saif Al Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn highly appreciated the UAE’s participation as a Guest of Honour at the fair. She praised the detailed information about UAE culture and history at the pavilion and said that this participation serves as a great opportunity to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of the UAE.
The UAE’s delegation to the international book fair included HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority; HE Abdulaziz Musalam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; HE Hisham Al Mathloum, Chairman of the Sharjah Collections of the Art; Mohamed Khalaf, Manager of Sharjah TV and Radio; Rashid Al Kous, General Manager of Knowledge Without Borders; Gamal Al Shehi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association; Amani Al Ali, Manager of the Executive Office of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Members of Emirates Publishers Association’s Board of Directors and a number of senior officials from various cultural institutions.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi accompanied the Princess of Thailand in a tour of the pavilion and in taking part in the cultural activities organised by the participating institutions. Sheikha Bodour presented a commemorative plaque engraved with Arabic calligraphy as a souvenir to Princess Maha.
Further, Abdulaziz Musalam delivered a brief about the exhibited handicrafts and heritage artefacts that highlight genuine Emirati heritage, and Hisham Al Mathloum discussed the art exhibitions which showcase a collection of pieces of Arabic calligraphy, artistic decoration and inscriptions that reflect the superb beauty of Arabic and Islamic culture.
Additionally, Princess Maha visited the Arabic Calligraphy stand where artist and calligrapher Khalid Al Jallaf, Chairman of Emirates Arabic Calligraphy Society, displayed some of his creative Arabic calligraphy. She also attended shows by the Sharjah Folklore Band and admired the folk songs and dances which highlight the diversity of UAE culture.
Speaking about the UAE’s participation as a Guest of Honour, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: “The UAE’s participation in the Bangkok International Book Fair is part of our constant endeavour to share our culture with the international community. The fair serves as a great platform to present UAE folklore and heritage to the Thai people and to visitors from different countries. The cultural ties between the UAE, Thailand and South and East Asian countries continue to grow on the basis of mutual cultural respect and cooperation."
In celebration of the UAE’s selection as a Guest of Honour at the Bangkok International Book Fair, the Emirates Publishers Association hosted a cocktail reception at the UAE Pavilion. The party was attended by a group of Arab and international publishers, headed by Richard Charkin, President of the International Publishers Association, Trasvin Jittidecharak, IPA Executive Committee Member and a number of representatives of national publisher associations in the region and beyond. The gathering was an opportunity to promote the third Arab Publishers Association Conference (APAC), which will be hosted in Sharjah next November under the theme Prospects and Challenges of the Digital Age, and will address a range of topics related to the publishing industry, including Libraries, Education, Intellectual Property, Copyright & Piracy, Digital Distribution, Freedom to Publish, Translation & the Arabic Language, Innovation in Publishing, and Content Development.