Abu Dhabi Book Fair from 17 to 22 March 2009

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The Abu Dhabi Book Fair and its partner the Frankfurt Book Fair held a press conference to publicise the next event in March 2009. Seth Russo of Scholastic made a presentation that highlighted many of the aspects of the region that make it worthwhile for publishers to take part in this book fair. Russo pointed out that the region has a collective GDP of US$ 970 billion and this is growing at 7 per cent. The government budgets are as high as 25 per cent for the education sector.

According to Jumaa Al Qubaisi, Director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, last year the government gave coupons worth 3 million Dirhams for the purchase of books by schools and libraries. Mr Al Qubaisin mention that it is possible that this amount will be doubled for the 2009 event drew immediate and enthusiastic response from publishers present at the press conference.
 
Jumaa Al Qubaisi made special mention of the large expatriate population from the Indian subcontinent in the Middle East who run many schools and naturally have a great interest in Indian publishers. In addition he spoke of the translation program that has been set up in collaboration with the help of the FBF and which is in fact supporting the translation of twenty Indian authors into Arabic. It is expected that ten of these books in translation will be published in time for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Book Fair.
 
The Abu Dhabi Book Fair presence at Frankfurt was well planned, professional and committed. There is no question that they have benefited from their collaboration with Frankfurt and have used the FBF’s strengths and network in the worldwide publishing industry to make their own Book Fair exceptional. KITAB the new joint venture company between Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and the Frankfurt Book Fair is organizing the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), and transforming it into a truly professional and international platform.

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