HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), said: “The generous support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, is vital to ensuring a bright future for Arab and global publishing. Moreover, it underlines the fact that development can be sustainable only when we continually nurture individual intellects and creative capacities by offering them access to abundant and updated sources of knowledge. With this directive, His Highness offers the world’s decision-makers an example of the role knowledge and education must play in fuelling meaningful progress.”

Al Ameri added: “His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah has always been the publishing industry’s strongest supporter in the Arab world. Honouring of this annual commitment conveys three key messages. First, those who keep referring to outdated sources of knowledge will not progress well, which is why this yearly initiative ensures that Sharjah’s libraries are enriched with the latest learning resources in both Arabic and other languages. Second, His Highness is showing us the pivotal role of libraries in the advancement of society, reminding us that these treasure troves of knowledge are reflective of our identity as a nation. Third, boosting growth and business opportunities for publishers is a collective responsibility, which is partly fulfilled by a remarkable initiative like this and partly by the patronage of readers, their stand against piracy and their support for the protection of intellectual property rights.”