Emirates Publishers Association plans to establish first regional copyright management center in UAE

ABU DHABI, 30th January, 2018 (WAM) -- The Emirates Publishers Association is working towards establishing the first regional copyright management center in the UAE, Sheikha Budour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and President of the Emirates Publishers Association, announced at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Publishing Forum, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, which got under way today under the theme ‘Transformations and Achievements in the Publishing Industry: The Emirati Experience.’ Attended by publishers and authors from around the world, the opening session along with Sheikha Budour Al Qasimi, were Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism -Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hany Torky, Chief Technical Advisor of the Arab Knowledge Project, United Nations Development Programme, along with experts from the publishing industry. In her speech at the forum’s opening ceremony, Sheikha Budour, said, "We are on the verge of achieving a significant breakthrough in publishing, the first of its kind in the Arab world. With our partners in the Ministry of Economy and other local and international organisations, we are working towards establishing the first regional copyright management center in the UAE." "With the center’s inauguration, the UAE will lead the region in its contribution to the development of the publishing and creative industries. Our efforts are part of a wider strategy to develop and build the society of tomorrow." Discussing the achievements of the Emirates Publishers Association over the past few years, Sheikha Budour added, "The Association has accomplished so much in recent years. The quality of book design, content, and printing has significantly improved. The number of publishing houses has doubled and the number of books published has increased significantly. There is an increased demand in this country for book exhibitions aimed at all age groups, especially children, which is a sign of great success and forward thinking. "The inclusion of Emirates Publisher’s Association in the International Publishers Association was an imperative strategic achievement," said Sheikha Budour. "The journey was tough and the challenges were great, but the determination and outstanding work put in by Emirati publishers not only resulted in us joining the federation, but was essential integral in opening the door for six Arab countries to also join the federation. It is with great pride and honour that the UAE is able to support the Arab world and further its development in the industry. It is a sign of international recognition of the strides that our national publishing industry has taken and the emphasis that we place in culture and creativity on a global scale." "The books that we publish reflect the voice of our nation and our people. The UAE is on its way to achieving the standards of renowned international publishing industries. What we need is the constant coordination and support of all parties interested in the industry," she continued. Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: "We are working under the guidance of our wise leaders to build pillars for a nation based on the kind of knowledge sharing that enriches the lives of future generations. The production of books and a strong publishing industry will be foundational to this effort. Books protect and share our national identity and heritage, forming a bridge of communication based on tolerance and cultural dialogue." Ghobash continued, "Knowledge-sharing events like the Publishing Forum are proven over time to highlight the strength of written communication. Culture and creativity build the future and are the roadmap to economic, social and intellectual development." "This forum, with its diversity of discussions and a host of influential participants, is an ideal platform to discuss the challenges facing the publishing industry in the UAE and the Arab region. Intellectual property rights, for instance, along with the support from local publishing houses and government sponsors, are helping us become the regional leader in the publishing industry. We are a pioneering and ambitious community and will always support publishers and writers." Dr. Hany Torky, Chief Technical Advisor of the Arab Knowledge Project, United Nations Development Programme, discussed the Arab Reading Index (ARI), stating that figures that are being circulated globally are marginally incorrect and the goal of ARI is to build a database of verified and factually accurate data on reading in the Arab world. "We have a central specialized team that deal with fact-checking and categorization. Through the results of a questionnaire answered by 148,000 people from all over the Arab world, there were 50,000 answers from Egypt, 17,000 from Lebanon, 10,000 from Morocco and more from countries including Comoros, Djibouti and Somalia." Torky stressed that the results of the reading index are real and document a treasure trove of information for decision-makers in the Arab world, effectively contributing to building societies based on culture and knowledge. Discussing the results of the index, Dr. Torky highlighted that the accessibility to books and reading material is a major factor in reading habits. Availability of reading material at a family level did not exceed 46 percent, while availability of materials at educational institutions is at 52 percent, and at a community level 37 percent. Dr. Torky announced that Lebanon topped the Arab Reading Index, followed by Egypt, Morocco, UAE, and Jordan.