Sharjah – The Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, paid, on Sunday, a visit to the Sharjah International Book Fair, of which Morocco is the guest of honor for this 43rd edition.
The Minister and the accompanying delegation composed of the Director General of the Sharjah Book Authority, Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, the Moroccan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed Tazi and the Director of Archives of Morocco, Latifa Moftaqir, began their visit with the Moroccan pavilion where they were informed of the different sections of this pavilion including heritage and manuscripts, historical maps, a space dedicated to the Foundation for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Rabat, as well as as a selection of books dealing with various themes linked to Moroccan culture, its tributaries, its components and its significant figures.
Mr. Bensaid took this opportunity to visit the various stands at the Show, including those of Moroccan publishing houses.
In a statement to the press, the minister stressed that the choice of Morocco as guest of honor at this Fair comes in a context where Moroccan-Emirati relations, under the wise leadership of the two Heads of State , are experiencing a qualitative leap, thus allowing the cultural field to be in tune with other fields.
In this regard, Mr. Bensaid noted that the two parties are called upon to put in place innovative mechanisms capable of raising cultural relations to the rank of political and economic ties uniting the two brotherly countries.
This Fair constitutes an opportunity for Moroccan publishers to promote their products and build relationships with publishers from other Arab and foreign countries, especially since this cultural event is considered one of the largest markets in the world. edition in the world, continued the minister.
He indicated that there are a number of ideas and joint projects which will encourage the start of an advanced stage of coordination, cooperation and exchange of expertise, particularly with regard to the book, noting that the The aim is to give substance to any initiative capable of broadening the prospects for joint action between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
On the sidelines of this visit, the Minister and the Director General of the Sharjah Book Authority held discussions, focused on examining joint action mechanisms to raise the level of cultural relations, support various initiatives, including in the field of cultural and creative industries that Morocco is establishing as an important project within the framework of the cultural economy.
Morocco’s program as guest of honor includes, among other things, meetings highlighting Morocco-United Arab Emirates cultural cooperation and the book industry in Morocco, as well as exchanges with eminent Moroccan intellectuals, including philosophers, writers, critics, academics as well as writers and poets.
Mounted at the Sharjah Expo Center, the pavilion allows the public to discover Moroccan heritage through conferences, plays, artistic exhibitions, round tables, as well as workshops for children on decoration and weaving. Around 4,000 titles from 25 Moroccan publishing houses are exhibited there.
