Parlt group to support Israeli-Arab settlement meets
A “society of friends” within the Hungarian parliament set up to support a settlement of ties between Israel and Arab countries held its first meeting on Monday, parliament’s press service said.
The society established late last year is headed by Zsolt Németh, the head of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, with Fidesz MP Pal Barna Zsigmond and Socialist MP Zita Gurmai as members.
The society monitors implementation of the Abraham Accords, signed by Israel and Arab countries with the aim of normalising their relations, and establishes contact with similar societies in other countries, the statement said.
At its first meeting, the society welcomed the signing of the accords and said they offered “a new approach and an opportunity to further strengthen peace and security in the region”. Expanding cooperation between Israel and the Arab countries could greatly contribute to increasing long-term stability in the region, they added.
Hungary is committed to promoting that trend and is ready to ensure support to the parties, even in the form of tri-lateral cooperation, the statement said.
Read alsoInterview with Palestinian Ambassador Dr Elhusseini on Israel, Hungarian-Palestinian relations and many others
Two cases of Zika infection detected in Hungary
Two people have been diagnosed with the mosquito-borne Zika virus after returning to Hungary from Thailand, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) said on Monday.
Both patients exhibited only mild symptoms, the authority said.
No local infections have been detected, NNK added.
As the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and the Pacific have become increasingly popular travel destinations for Hungarians, the authority has advised those returning from there to consult a doctor if they experience symptoms like fever, headache, rashes, joint or muscle pain or red eyes within a period of three weeks.
Read alsoCelebrity toxicologist slams Hungarian PM Orbán’s weight in harsh critique
Kyrgyz President Japarov held talks with Hungarian President Novák
Hungary-Kyrgyzstan economic relations harbour great potential, President Katalin Novák said after meeting Sadyr Japarov, her Kyrgyz counterpart, in Budapest on Monday.
At a joint press conference, Novák noted that they signed several agreements on various areas of bilateral cooperation.
A strategic agreement was signed to enable effective action against terrorism, while others aim to strengthen ties in several areas, including in tourism, agriculture, water management and education, Novák said.
The president said Hungary wanted to nurture pragmatic and positive relations with Central Asian countries.
Hungary, she said, welcomed the rapprochement between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan, and she called for an agreement on enhanced cooperation and partnership to be signed as soon as possible. Hungary is working to speed up the process, she added.
The president said that
a sign of strengthening ties was that two years ago Hungary opened an embassy in Kyrgyzstan.
On the subject of student financing, she welcomed the removal of obstacles in the way of Erasmus scholarships for Hungarian students, while Kyrgyz students have the opportunity to win 200 Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships.
Read alsoPresident: No Hungary without Europe, no Europe without Hungary
Kyrgyzstan is in 100th place on the list of Hungary’s trading partners, she noted, adding that there was still ample room for economic relations to develop.
Novák said the war in Ukraine was the main topic of the discussion, and they were in agreement that instigating peace talks was an urgent goal.
She noted her scheduled attendance of the Bucharest Nine summit in Warsaw on Feb. 22, adding that she planned to tell US President Joe Biden of the urgent need for peace talks.
Representatives of Hungary and Kyrgyzstan, including Justice Minister Judit Varga and Data Protection Commissioner Attila Peterfalvi, signed additional agreements on strengthening judicial and educational cooperation, among others.
Japarov said Hungary and Kyrgyzstan are developing strategic cooperation, and the aim of the agreements is to elevate ties between the two countries to a higher level, especially in the areas of the economy, culture and education.
Read alsoPresident Novák meets Azeri counterpart Ilham Alijev in Budapest
Hungary, Uzbekistan to set up special industrial zone for Hungarian firms near Tashkent
Hungary and Uzbekistan have agreed to set up a special industrial zone tailored to the needs of Hungarian businesses near Tashkent, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in the Uzbek capital on Thursday.
Hungarian firms will have a special legal status to carry out investments and business activities in the area, Szijjártó said, according to a foreign ministry statement.
Detailing his talks in Uzbekistan, Szijjártó said Hungary’s OTP Bank recently acquired Uzbek peer Ipoteka Bank. The minister added that OTP’s entry into a given market tended to encourage more investments in that market by Hungarian businesses.
“This is only natural, given that such a step guarantees a form of legal and financial security for their investments,” Szijjártó said. This is once again the case, he said, noting that eight Hungarian companies have announced plans to invest in Uzbekistan’s food industry, agriculture, nuclear industry, pharmaceutical industry, the production of medical equipment and the construction industry since OTP established a presence in the country.
The ability of Hungarian businesses to invest in foreign markets and reinvest their profits in Hungary is key to the country’s future economic growth, Szijjártó said.
The government therefore supports Hungarian investments in the fast-expanding market that is Uzbekistan, he added.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said both central Europe and central Asia were suffering from the effects of the war in Ukraine. Both Uzbekistan and Hungary want the war to be over and peace to be established as soon as possible, he added.
“International decisions that risk prolonging or — God forbid — expanding the war go deeply against our national interests,” Szijjártó said.
Weapons deliveries contribute to the prolongation of the war and carry a risk of escalation, he said, adding that both Budapest and Tashkent supported an urgent ceasefire and peace talks.
Szijjártó met Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister, foreign, economic and investment ministers as well as top officials of the presidential administration, among others, during his visit.
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Direct flights may commute between Budapest and two Asian countries soon
Good news came about the opening of two brand new flight routes from Budapest to exotic Asian countries having no direct connection with Hungary yet. It seems that the first COVID-free summer holds a lot of surprises for Hungarians and expats living in Hungary.
According to Budflyer, a Facebook page specialising in travel news, the first possible destination is Mongolia. The country is planning to establish direct air connections with six countries, including Hungary. Based on their post, the governments of Hungary and Mongolia are working on bilateral flight service agreements. The good news is that the government in Ulaanbaatar accepted the document’s first draft in its last week session.
The agreement contains 26 paragraphs and has rules for flight security, flight safety, authorities responsible for supervising the air connection, operation permissions, tariffs, customs and other fees.
Besides, another Asian country would also like to establish a direct air connection with Hungary and Budapest. There were rumours and talks about a flight between Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and the Hungarian capital. However, now Bufdlyer said the two parties were waiting only for signing the relevant agreement. The progress was announced by the head of the Civil Aviation Department, Alexander Nastayev.
He added that the two countries aimed to establish a direct air connection. However, the plan was postponed due to the geopolitical situation. He probably referred to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine following the Russian attack against Hungary’s Northeastern neighbour last February. The war makes the establishment of an air connection difficult between Hungary and Kyrgyzstan, provided one does not want to fly above the Black Sea.
Therefore, Nastayev talked about a route via Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Now Kyrgyzstan waits for permission from their Georgian counterparts concerning the operation of the flights.
Currently, you have three air options to travel from Budapest to Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar and vice versa. You can change in Istanbul, Vienna and Zagreb. Interstingly, that means Croatia and Austria in the region have a direct air connection with Mongolia, rome2rio.com wrote. Many Hungarians believe that the people of Mongolia and Hungary are related nations since the ancestors of the Hungarians came from Central Asia.
Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, announced on 1 February that the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zhaparov, would come to Budapest the following week. Thus, he may sign the agreement with PM Orbán about establishing a direct air connection. Hungary will be the first EU member state President Zhaparov visits.
Brutal murder in downtown Budapest: a Mongolian man beat his girlfriend to death
Budapest police have closed the investigation against a man who beat his partner so badly that she died of her injuries.
An investigation was ordered on 17 January 2022 by the Budapest Police Headquarters because, according to the available data, a Mongolian man had assaulted his girlfriend so severely that she died of her injuries after a preliminary argument in their apartment in the 6th district. The man, who was suspected of having committed the crime, was arrested by the investigators on the spot and interrogated on suspicion of causing bodily harm causing death.
The investigators of the Life Protection Department of the Budapest Police Headquarters carried out the necessary procedural steps, and the documents were handed over to the competent prosecutor’s office in the next few days – police.hu reports.
The Budapest Police Headquarters told 24.hu that the suspect confessed to the assault, and the police closed the investigation, the case is now at the prosecutor’s office.
Read alsoA teenager stabbed a Hungarian police officer with a 9 cm long knife!
Amrit Kaal of the Indian Economy
Guest author: Dr. Bibek Debroy – the Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Government of India
Recently, India celebrated 75 years of Independence. The idea of Amritkaal extends that forward to the next twenty-five years, to 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of Independence. The India of 2023 is different from the India of 1947 and the India of 2047 will be different from the India of 2023 in ways few can anticipate and project today.
If one casts one’s mind back, how many would have guessed changes wrought in India in the last twenty-five years? The world is uncertain and the long-run even more so. While the future is always uncertain, the current state of the world has been permeated with an additional dose of uncertainty – Covid, geo-political tensions, collapse of the multilateral system and regionalism, retreat of advanced countries from globalization and the dreaded expression of “recession” in some of those countries. These are external shocks that have been thrust on India, as they have on many emerging market economies, and underline collapse of institutions that provide global public goods, Bretton Woods Institutions included. In passing, global governance has yet to accept rise of economies like India. Lord Keynes is often quoted, usually out of context. A cliched quote is, “In the long run we are all dead.” If one reads the complete text (The Tract on Monetary Reform, 1923), one will find the intention wasn’t quite what out-of-context quotes convey.
There is much that is uncertain, in the present and in the long-run of the future. But there is much that is also certain. Within that band of certainty, it is impossible to dispute India’s inexorable economic rise. At one point, much was made of the Goldman Sachs report, on dreaming with BRICS and path to 2050, authored in 2003. (1) In that report, the average real rate of GDP growth for India was around 5.5%, the explosion in aggregate GDP and per capita GDP by 2050 explained by the nature of the exponential function. (2) That report didn’t have a figure for 2047, but did have one for 2045. In 2045, India’s aggregate GDP was projected to be 18.8 trillion US dollars and per capita GDP of just over 12,000 US dollars. (3) None of the reasons behind optimistic projections have been nullified by the present uncertainty – increase in savings/investment rates as a result of demographic transition and income growth, growth drivers in more efficient land, labour and capital markets and productivity enhancement. To use an economist’s expression, India is still within the production possibility frontier, not on it. To state it differently, aggregate growth for India is a summation of growth in States and States are within their respective frontiers, providing plenty of endogenous slack for growth. Had the external world been more benign, India might have grown at 9%. Typically, one tends to extrapolate the gloominess of the present to the future. It is by no means obvious that the external world will continue to be difficult for the next twenty-five years. But even if that were to be the case, India might not grow at 9%. What real growth rate seems reasonable?
The answer depends on the person making the projection and the assumptions. A nominal figure depends on assumptions made about inflation, which is why projections are often in real terms, in today’s dollars. A dollar figure also depends on assumptions made about the dollar/rupee exchange rate, which is why projections often assume the current exchange rate. (Goldman Sachs assumed rupee appreciation vis-à-vis the dollar.) A PPP (purchasing power parity) exercise is naturally different. With inflation and exchange rate changes out of the way, what trajectory of real growth sounds reasonable? The pessimistic forecaster will point to state of the external world and domestic inefficiencies and opt for 5.5%. The optimistic forecaster will point to empowerment through ease of living and provision of basic necessities, ease of doing business, supply-side reforms, and Union government’s capital expenditure and opt for 7.5%. That’s the rough range, with the recognition that as one grows, growth rates slow. As one moves up the development ladder, it becomes more difficult to grow as fast, with the caveat that different States are at different levels of development and there is plenty of slack. To return to the certainty of the long-run, one can plug in one’s own assumptions about real growth, say something like 6.5%, between the two extremes of 5.5% and 7.5%. In 2047, India’s per capita income will then be something like 10,000 US dollars. The total size of the economy will approach 20 trillion US dollars. These numbers are roughly in the same range as the Goldman Sachs one. In Goldman Sachs, the role of exchange rate appreciation was relatively more. In such projections, the role of real growth is relatively more.
If reforms drive the Indian growth trajectory to higher than 6.5%, and that Citius, Altius and Fortius possibility cannot be ruled out, the corresponding numbers will be higher. Even with the relatively conservative numbers, this means India will be the third largest economy in the world, after United States and China and this will naturally be reflected in India’s global clout. If one does a PPP ranking, India will be the second largest, after China. The annual rate of population growth has slowed and is now less than 1%. Nevertheless, in 2047, India will be the most populous country in the world, with a population of something like 1.6 billion. Expressions like “developed country” are rarely used these days. The term no longer has a specific definition. The World Bank uses terms like middle-income. Today, India is classified as a lower middle-income economy. In 2047, India will move to the upper middle-income category. Once one approaches a per capita income of 13,000 US dollars, the status becomes high-income. That’s when India can be said to be “developed”. In 2047, India will fall short, but the face of poverty, as we know it, will be completely transformed.
Measurement of poverty is based on the notion of a poverty line and using a multi-dimensional poverty index, UNDP has recently documented the sharp drop in number of poor people in India. As economies develop, the notion of a poverty line is of course moved up, beyond a subsistence level of consumption. However, officially, the poverty line used is still the Tendulkar poverty line. Unfortunately, consumption expenditure data, used to measure poverty, do not exist beyond 2011-12. Therefore, different people have used different assumptions to measure poverty today. If one uses PLFS (periodic labour force survey) data and the Tendulkar poverty line, the poverty ratio (percentage of population below the poverty line) is around 17% now. By 2047, this ratio will decline to around 5%. SDG (sustainable development goal) reports, among others, have documented pockets of deprivation in selected geographical regions, targeted by the government through the aspirational districts programme. India is heterogeneous and despite provision of basic necessities (physical and social infrastructure, financial inclusion, access to markets, technology, digital access) and the overall message of empowerment, there will be pockets of poverty, even in 2047. But the nature of that poverty will be very different. India will achieve universal literacy, or be pretty close to it. UNDP uses HDI (human development index), an aggregate measure, to gauge human development, moving beyond poverty ratios. Today, India is in the medium human development category, judged by HDI. In 2047, India will move to the high human development category.
There are five transitions going on and these will be even more marked in 2047. First, there is a rural to urban shift and urbanization is correlated with development. By 2047, almost 60% of India’s population will be urbanized. Delhi and Kolkata with populations of around 35 million, Mumbai with more than 40 million. The mind boggles and the government’s programmes are meant to ensure that urbanization is managed better. Second, there will be grater formalization of the economy. Yet again, formalization is correlated with growth and development. Individuals will have formal job contracts. MSMEs will graduate to become legally registered. Indian companies will become larger and more efficient, integrated into global supply chains. Third, the percentage of the population that earns a living from agriculture will decline. Agriculture’s share in GDP will decline to something like 5% and the percentage of population that earns a living from agriculture will not be more than 20%. Fourth, within agriculture, there will be a shift away towards commercialization and diversification and larger farms. Fifth, there will be greater citizen participation in governance with the “sabka prayas” theme. For years, there was a colonial chip on the shoulder. But the present India is a proud India, a resilient India, an aspiring India. Amritkaal is about that and the country is making great strides on economic front with greater confidence and entrepreneurship.
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MEP Gyöngyösi: Qatargate – What the EP needs is consistent regulations, not a witch-hunt!
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MEP Márton Gyöngyösi’s (Non-attached) thoughts via press release:
Coming to light just before Christmas and causing quite a stir ever since, the corruption scandal has perhaps been the largest and most severe case of this nature so far in any EU institution. The outrage is understandable and the affair is quite likely to be politicized as nearly all the affected persons have ties to the European Parliament’s Socialists & Democrats group.
In a situation like this, the first and most important thing is of course to apprehend the culprits and punish them. That part seems to have been going seamlessly: the European Parliament, the authorities and the political stakeholders have all reacted with exemplary promptness. The politicians who likely have accepted large bribes are now in custody.
The threads are being followed up to find out how Qatar and Morocco were trying to corrupt decision-makers.
On the other hand, while we investigate real criminal acts and categorically condemn any felony or misdemeanour committed, I think it’s important not to go to extremes and start a wild witch-hunt by deeming diplomacy and legitimate lobbying as corruption. The reason I need to talk about this is because there are quite a few voices who are ready to go far beyond preventing corruption: they are now suggesting to basically lock MEPs up in the EP building, strictly limiting their opportunities to meet diplomats or politicians of non-EU countries, or have discussions with NGOs and lobby organizations.
Let’s make it clear: if MEPs accept money or any other kind of remuneration for representing a position other than their own, either in debates or when it comes to voting, is an obvious case of corruption, i.e., a punishable act.
In contrast, listening to different opinions or the representatives of different interests (without individual stakes of course) is part of a MEP’s job, because politicians are not polyhistors (even though they are often thought to be or, in a worse case, they believe it themselves, too). They can’t possibly have a deep insight into every science, country, industry or the situation of every social group. On the other hand, they must strive to expand their knowledge and widen their views because it is a prerequisite for being able to represent their voters efficiently. That’s why field work is so important for a politician; it’s vital to meet as many people as they can.
The organization of the different social groups to represent their common interests, regardless if it is based on ideology, geography or economic status, is a fundamental element of democracy.
If these organizations seek contact with politicians in order to present and explain their position, it is a natural thing as it is the very reason for their existence. Similarly, we can hardly condemn the different nations for trying to present themselves in the best light. Let’s not forget that the European Union does it, too.
So I think it would be against the principles of democracy and being a politician if the anti-corruption struggle turned into a witch-hunt against unions or foreign diplomats, for example. You can’t expect MEPs to make responsible decisions if you cut them off from the flow of information. Furthermore, it doesn’t really help the anti-corruption fight, either.
What we need is clear, consistent regulations and transparency, but first and foremost, we need to do the best possible job to uncover and bring to light all the threads of this scandal.
Disclaimer: the sole liability for the opinions stated rests with the author(s). These opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Parliament.
Read alsoMEP Gyöngyösi: Hard times coming for US parties
SIBF 2022: Interview with Khawla Al Mujaini
The 41st Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) was a great success again this year, with many people attending the almost two-week event. We interviewed Khawla Al Mujaini, General coordinator of SIBF.
Daily News Hungary (DNH): What started 41 years ago as a small local book fair has grown into one of the largest book fairs in the world. Could you tell us how this was achieved? What is the secret of their success?
Al Mujaini: We followed the vision of His Highness, who believed that SIBF had huge potential. We tried to make his vision a reality. Networking was important in this development. We started attending book fairs around the world, both for them to get to know us and for us to get to know others. Also important on the way to success was to make contact with Arab writers and publishers and connect them with the international market. There should be a strong message in such an event, and it is also forward-looking to embrace the changes and challenges that the years bring.
DNH: Hungary participated in the SIBF for the first time. Can you give us some details?
Al Mujaini: We were very happy to welcome our guests from Hungary, as it was indeed the first time they had come from your country. As far as I know, they participated in the Publisher Conference events.
DNH: Can you also recommend the event to Hungarians or to Central Europeans?
Al Mujaini: We welcome guests from all over the world because we can offer both cultural and business opportunities to Hungarian publishers and authors. These things make it worthwhile to visit us in the future. There are always new opportunities, who knows, maybe one day we will be the special guests of the Budapest Book Week. UAE is trying to offer opportunities to publishers in European countries so that they don’t have to go to other Asian countries to print books, they can just come to the Emirates for the cheapest deal.
DNH: What do you think about the book being the past and digitisation the future?
Al Mujaini: I don’t believe in it. Books will be with us forever, digitalisation will not solve that, because the readability, touch, and smell of books will always be with us. Yes, we use digital channels to advertise books, but that doesn’t mean that books will ever go out of use. In fact, in my experience, the younger generation still has a need for books, in addition to growing up surrounded by digital devices. Children’s books are a priority category at the book fair, as there is a huge market and there is always a demand for newer and newer themed stories, tales, and coloring books alongside older titles. In English, Arabic, or even Hungarian.
DNH: Although it is not part of the book fair, we would be curious to know why Sharjah is the perfect tourist destination for people?
Al Mujaini: Sharjah is a family-oriented and safe city. The community here is very friendly as it is multinational and open to everyone. There are many attractions in Sharjah, such as the magnificent Khar Fakkan, or even the House of Wisdom. There are many activities for tourists: Aquarium, Butterfly Park, and many more. So, it must be on your bucket list for when you come to the United Arab Emirates. We welcome you all!
Read alsoSultan AlQasimi opens 41st edition of Sharjah International Book Fair
Kazakh President Tokayev wins re-election
The current Kazakh President, Kassim-Jomart Tokayev, came out on top in Sunday’s snap elections, winning 81.31 percent of the vote, Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) said on Monday, citing preliminary data.
According to Helló Magyar, the electoral commission has confirmed the overwhelming victory of the People’s Coalition candidate. The results, based on preliminary data, are as follows:
K. Tokayev – 81,31 %
Zh. Dayrabaev – 3,42 %
K. Abden – 2,6 %
M. Kazhyken – 2,53 %
N. Auesbaev – 2.22 %
S. Tursynbekova – 2.12%
“Historic day”
“Today is a very important, historic day. We are voting for the bright future of our country. This year has not been easy, but our people have united and overcome all difficulties. We now face very ambitious goals and tasks. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Political reforms are underway,”
Tokayev said on election day.
The country is undergoing political reforms and the next parliamentary elections will be the freest in the country’s history:
“We have talked about new parties being registered. This process is ongoing… I believe that before the parliamentary elections, some parties will be able to meet the necessary conditions and will be registered. I believe that this is in our interest,” Tokayev said, noting that if elected, he would announce the date for parliamentary elections at the end of the year, The Astana Times reports.
He also spoke about foreign policy, saying that while he was Russia’s ally in many cases, President Tokayev repeatedly condemned Russia’s aggression in the war in Ukraine and called on the Russian president to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Yesterday, he said that, given Kazakhstan’s complex geostrategic situation, foreign policy should have taken into account the fact that its economy attracted more than $300 billion in foreign direct investment and that the world’s largest multinationals operated in its market
“I have often said that Kazakhstan must be committed to the UN Charter and pursue a peaceful foreign policy,”
added Tokayev.
Read alsoOrbán in Uzbekistan: Organisation of Turkic States a “forum of peace”
SIBF 2022 comes to a close: 2.17 million visitors from 112 countries – PHOTOS
2.17 million visitors from 112 countries send out inspiring message of ‘Spread the Word’ as
Consolidating its position as the world’s largest book fair for the second year in a row in terms of buying and selling of copyrights, the 41st Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) drew to a successful close, after receiving 2.17 million readers from 112 countries during the 12-day cultural extravaganza that ran under the theme, ‘Spread the Word’.
Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the fair’s visitors comprised 54.2 percent male and 45.8 percent female. Of these, 40.8 percent were in the 16-25 age group while 35.1 percent formed part of the 25-45 age group.
Embodying its vision of building new generations of readers, SIBF 2022 received 218,000 students. For young pupils, the book fair is an important annual cultural destination that provides their libraries with new Arabic and foreign publications, and facilitates the opportunity to meet their favourite writers and cultural personalities, including content creators, artists and social media influencers.
SIBF 2022, which celebrated Italy as the Guest of Honour, hosted a galaxy of authors, sports personalities, intellectuals, artists, popular cinema icons from the Arab region and the Subcontinent, and a host of specialised experts to drive home Sharjah’s cultural campaign to the world, ‘If you’re into something, you’re into books’.
Through a diverse array of activities including music, arts, poetry evenings, and more under its vibrant cultural programme, the fair has strengthened and deepened connections between books and every aspect of human life.
Distinguished guests
SIBF 2022 welcomed India’s most celebrated actor Shah Rukh Khan – popularly known as the King of Bollywood; Egyptian actor Karim Abdul Aziz, lead star of The Blue Elephant; Egypt’s renowned action hero, Ahmed El Sakka; and Saudi Arabia’s prized musician, Abadi-Al Johar, amongst a host of other cultural celebrities.
Sudanese historian Yusuf Fadl Hasan was celebrated as ‘Cultural Personality’ of SIBF 2022 while the fair also hosted a distinguished group of regional and international guests in the 41st edition, including Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka, winner of the 2022 Booker Prize; Geetanjali Shree, Hindi-language author and winner of the International Booker prize; Algerian novelist Waciny Laredj, Egyptian writer Ahmad Mourad, and author Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union, amongst others.
Read alsoSIBF 2022: Interview with Khawla Al Mujaini
200 cultural activities
The forum halls opened doors for debates and discussions on some of the most prominent issues impacting Arab and world literature and explored challenges of translation, delved into the future of communication, and offered insights on the importance of research, documentation and history. Over the course of 12 days, SIBF hosted more than 200 cultural discussions to enrich and educate the visitors.
African – Arab Cultural Programme
This year, the book fair shed light on the African experience in literature through the African – Arab Cultural Programme and celebrated writers of the contemporary diaspora with a special programme encompassing performances and activities in literature, art, fashion, and music.
Publisher opportunities
The annual book fair, which places publishers at the heart of the cultural event, opened opportunities for professionals in the industry to network, matchmake, and forge partnerships. 26 publishing houses from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, India, UK, Morocco, Algeria, Tunis and UAE, are embarking on a new journey to make inroads in the region and beyond by signing up to avail the support facilities and services at the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone.
AED 4.5 million grant
During the fair, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, directed the allocation of AED 4.5 million to equip the emirate’s libraries with the latest titles from regional and international publishing houses who have a presence at the 41st SIBF.
Social Media impressions
With more than 38 million impressions, SIBF’s social media accounts reached more than 7 million users globally. More than 18 million individuals viewed videos created for the 41st edition while the hashtag ‘#SIBF22’ created 78 million impressions. In addition, there were 8,400 individual posts from the public and media that used the hashtag in Arabic and English.
Building communities of readers
HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, said: “Curtains came down on the 41st Sharjah International Book Fair with over 2.17 million visitors. These are not mere visitors but ambassadors who carry forward the message and vision of SBA, and the emirate’s cultural project that was founded five decades ago by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which has grown and borne fruit, the latest of which is the recognition as the world’s largest book fair for the second year in a row.”
The SBA Chairman added: “One of the core goals of the book fair is to raise awareness on the importance of reading, and build communities that believe in the value and impact of books. We have achieved this goal to a large extent. Our goal is to transcend the idea that reading is an activity for intellectuals only. At SBA, we believe that reading is for all segments of the community whose interests span across varied fields like music, cinema, sports, architecture, fashion, or any other. This was reflected in the diversity of SIBF guests in the 41st edition whose relationship with books was evident during their participation at the event.”
Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SIBF, said: “SIBF vibrant agenda of activities in its 41st edition offered a comprehensive experience that attracted visitors and distinguished artists, sportsmen and authors from all around the world. The high footfall is a clear indicator of the status and importance of the international book fair in meeting the demands of its guests, regardless of age and nationalities.”
This year, SIBF 2022 hosted 2,213 publishers, comprising 1,298 from the Arab region and 915 from around the world. Under the book fair’s cultural programme this year, SIBF hosted 150 distinguished authors, intellectuals and creatives who led 1,500 activities and sessions including 200 activities encompassing workshops, talks, and seminars.
Zlatan Ibrahimović at Sharjah International Book Fair 2022
“You can’t buy an experience but you can buy a book about experiences and learn from them,” said footballing legend Zlatan Ibrahimović, a prolific goalscorer and bestselling author of I Am Zlatan and I Am Football, at the concluding session of the 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair.
“Books provide inspiration and give many people access to learn from experts,”
said the Swedish professional footballer who has enjoyed success both on the field and in the world of literature with his bestselling memoirs.”I believe it is my responsibility to share my experience and write what I have learnt to make better people and footballers in the world,” he added.
Advising young readers and his fans of all ages in the packed ballroom, the Sweden forward said: “When you do something in life, do it because you believe in it. When something feels natural and real, that’s when it works all the time.”
The excitement in the ballroom was truly palpable as Ibrahimović, who plays as a striker for Serie A club AC Milan and has scored almost 600 goals between his multiple clubs and his national team, walked into the auditorium and onto the stage.
Describing him as “still young”, the celebrated 41-year-old footballer and author of Adrenaline: My Untold Stories, attributed his success on and off the field over the last 23 years to “working hard for what you want to achieve.”
He said: “I don’t do things to cater to the expectations of others and when people doubt me, it fills me with passion and I never give up or let the opinions of others slow me down.”
Expressing his pride in his discipline and ‘bullet-proof’ mentality, Ibrahimović noted that he maintains this resolve by surrounding himself with inspirational people and inspiring others.
In response to a question, Zlatan said:
“Roberto Carlos probably had the biggest impact on my career as a fellow player, because of the competition we shared between each other. He was an explosive player, and in some ways, he grounded and pushed me to be even better than I was.”
Responding to a question, the Swedish footballer said although he considers Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo to be rather special, it was ultimately up to the fans to decide.
Speaking about the upcoming World Cup, the acclaimed footballer said he expects Argentina to take the title and that he hopes for Messi to hold up the World Cup trophy.
“Every World Cup is exciting as it’s the biggest stage for football to be played on, it is always special to me whether I’m playing or not. Regardless of my prediction, the best team on the day will take the trophy home.”
Expanding on his thoughts about Messi, Zlatan said, “Messi truly loves football as I do, and we both love to give back to the game. This is very important – giving back to the sport we love is a big part of our journey.”
Hungarian House Speaker held talks in Oman
Speaker of Parliament László Kövér held talks in Oman, focusing on developing political and economic cooperation with that country and the region, the Hungarian parliament’s press office told MTI on Monday.
In his talks with Khalid Al Mawali, head of Oman’s Consultative Assembly, Kövér said his visit would also promote relations between the parliaments of the two countries. The talks also touched upon the impact of the recent coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Kövér regretted that “we are the only country in Europe that talks about peace” and warned that unless an early ceasefire was achieved “it will have very serious ramifications for us all”.
Al Mawali said ties between Hungary and Oman were very good, with the two countries in agreement on a number of international issues. He added that strengthening economic ties should serve as a basis for more intensive cooperation.
Kövér was received by Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, deputy prime minister of the Council of Ministers. At the talks, Kövér pointed to water management, agriculture, the defence industry, and education as areas with further cooperation opportunities, while his negotiating partner said his country appreciated the moderate and balanced policies of the Hungarian government.
Kövér is scheduled to meet Abdulmalik Abdullah Ali al Khalili, head of the State Council, and Foreign Minister Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamood Al Busaidi.
Following his talks in Oman, Kövér will leave for an official visit to Egypt.
Read alsoHungarian Speaker and Qatar’s ambassador agree on rejecting “double standards”
Orbán in Uzbekistan: Organisation of Turkic States a “forum of peace”
Hungary sees the Organisation of Turkic States as a “forum of peace” when it comes to the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a summit of the Turkic grouping in Samarkand on Friday.
Hungary, which has observer status in the organisation, is the only remaining eastern people in Europe, and being a neighbour of Ukraine, the effects of the war on the country are “huge and immediate”, Orbán said in his address. “More than a million refugees have entered the country, inflation is sky-high and we’ve never seen food and energy prices as high as they are now,” he said. Hungary’s aim is for a ceasefire to be declared in Ukraine and for peace talks to get under way as soon as possible, he said. This is also the only way to overcome the energy crisis, he added.
The biggest problem is that in Europe the voices of those who want peace is nowhere near as loud as the voices of those who want to heighten tensions, Orbán said. The European Union is an “escalation spiral” and international organisations are becoming increasingly politicised, limiting the possibility for meaningful dialogue based on common sense, he added.
The “severe sanctions” approved by the EU have also created a difficult situation, hurting the bloc’s original plan to weaken Russia and force peace, the prime minister said. But the sanctions have had the opposite effect, he said, arguing that as the war endured, it was not Russia but rather the European economy that had weakened.
Read also PM Orbán travelling to Uzbekistan with 60 businessmen, several ministers
Orbán added that in his view Europe did not have a “will of its own”, and was expected to support the foreign policy of the United States. This, he said, meant that the EU would be facing a serious economic situation for several years to come. Orbán thanked Turkey for its mediatory efforts to avert a food crisis, saying that such a crisis would generate another mass migration wave directly affecting Hungary. The prime minister noted that Hungary had prevented some 250,000 people from crossing its southern border illegally so far this year. He also thanked the summit’s other participants for their steps and remarks towards promoting peace.
Orbán also praised Turkey for its role in securing Hungary’s energy supply. Hungary is already paying a high price for energy, and the key to its energy security is the natural gas pipeline running through Turkey, which is the only east-west pipeline operating at full capacity, he said. He thanked Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, saying
Azerbaijan was “Hungary’s only real option” when it came to diversifying its energy sources and importing gas from a country other than Russia.
Baku, he added, also supported the initiative to bring green electricity to Europe in the form of a partnership between itself, Georgia, Romania and Hungary.
Hungary’s interest lies in maintaining cooperation between the East and the West, Orban said, stressing Hungary’s support for the work of the Organisation of Turkic States. Hungary will work to “make the Turkic vision a reality over the coming decade”, he added.
Read alsoWhat comes next? Hungarian minister resigned due to debate over energy issues – UPDATED
Orbán also said that Hungary will join the proposals aimed at facilitating and speeding up trade, and it supports the establishment of a Turkic investment fund.
The prime minister thanked the summit’s participants for their support for setting up an Institute for Drought Prevention in Hungary.
Commenting on Orbán’s address, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasised the importance of hearing about the situation in Europe. President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan thanked Hungary for its active participation in strengthening the integration of the Turkic world at both the regional and international levels. The Organisation of Turkic States comprises Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Hungary and Turkmenistan have observer status in the grouping.
Hungarian Speaker and Qatar’s ambassador agree on rejecting “double standards”
Speaker of Parliament László Kövér met Abdulla Falah Abdulla Nasser Al-Dosari, Qatar’s Ambassador to Hungary, in his office on Thursday at the diplomat’s request, the parliament’s press office told MTI.
The two sides praised bilateral economic, political and cultural relations. The ambassador expressed appreciation for Hungary’s support strengthening Qatar’s ties with the European Union, and Hungary’s advocacy for peace and the negotiated settlement of the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflicts, it said in a statement.
The Emir of Qatar is scheduled to visit Hungary next year, it said, adding that Kövér has invited the president of the Shura Council, the legislative body of Qatar, for a visit.
Concerning international criticism of Qatar before the forthcoming soccer World Cup, the two sides agreed that “double standards” and “ideological pressure” were “unacceptable”. Kövér said politics should not be brought to bear on sports, and athletes should not be forced to make political statements. The speaker expressed appreciation for Qatar’s efforts to host the world’s second biggest sports event successfully.
Read alsoThe United Arab Emirates and Hungarian Trade and Industry Joint Council meets in Budapest
PM Orbán: Uzbekistan is strategic partner in Central Asia
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed economic and energy cooperation as well as the deepening of bilateral cultural and education relations with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand on Thursday, the PM’s press chief said.
Uzbekistan welcomes Hungarian businesspeople and companies and is prepared to provide them any help needed for their investments to be successful, Bertalan Havasi cited Mirziyoyev as saying.
Orbán said that in the current crisis caused by the war and the related sanctions, the entirety of Europe, including Hungary, was fighting to maintain its economic momentum.
“But even in the current situation, we aren’t slowing, but rather increasing the intensity of cooperation with our strategic partner in the region, Uzbekistan,” Orbán said. “We’re strengthening the joint projects we’ve launched in the areas of nuclear energy, the chemical industry, finance and telecommunications.”
Because the global energy crisis will last a long time, Hungary is exploring opportunities for joint gas extraction with Uzbekistan, Orbán said. He also said Hungary will increase the number of scholarships granted to Uzbek students from 120 to 170 a year.
Read alsoSlovak foreign minister: Orbán plays from Kremlin playbook
PM Orbán travelling to Uzbekistan with 60 businessmen, several ministers
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is travelling to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, to a summit of the Organisation of Turkic States, where he is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Turkic countries, the PM’s press chief said.
Orbán is heading a delegation of government members, including Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy and the PM’s political director Balázs Orbán, and some 60 Hungarian businessmen, Bertalan Havasi said. Besides current events in international politics, the summit will also touch on economic, trade and transport issues, he said.
Orbán is slated to hold bilateral talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Havasi said.
Read alsoMissing file: Hungarian government’s crisis management plan
FM Szijjártó: Hungary, Maldives agree to develop mutual cooperation
Hungary and the Maldive Islands have concluded a cooperation agreement on economic ties, higher education and sports, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Wednesday in Male, after meeting his Maldivian counterpart, Abdulla Shahid. The Pacific region is an important focal point of geopolitical rivalry, which boosts the significance of “countries like the Maldives which are building their policies on common sense,” Péter Szijjártó said. The European Union and Hungary see the Maldives, a regional stabilising influence in a strategic geographical location, as a key partner in the region, he said, adding that supports the country’s request for visa-free travel and tax exemptions for Maldivian fishing products, he said.
Under the agreement they signed today, Hungary will raise the number of scholarships offered for Maldivian students to 25 from 15, and extend it to athletes and trainers, he said. The government is also supporting Hungarian companies investing in the islands nation, especially in water management, waste management and tourism. Hungary is also sending Hungarian-made X-ray machines to the country, he added.
Read also Here is how Hungary will never support Ukraine: it is not the arms deliveries
Szijjártó is scheduled to meet President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the ministers for higher education, economic development and sports later in the day. Shahid thanked Hungary for its help to Maldivian students stranded in Ukraine when the war started, and noted Szijjarto was the first Hungarian foreign minister to pay an official visit to the country. He called the talks “extremely fruitful” for boosting further cooperation, and he welcomed Hungary’s commitment to supporting the Maldives, especially its health-care sector.
Sultan AlQasimi opens 41st edition of Sharjah International Book Fair
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), on Tuesday evening, November 1st, at Expo Centre Sharjah.
Under the theme ‘Spread the Word’, the 2022 edition of SIBF runs between November 2-13 with the participation of 2,213 publishers from 95 countries.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah marked the opening of SIBF 2022 by welcoming the gathering of eminent writers, intellectuals, publishers and leading thought leaders from the region and across the world to a vibrant new edition of the annual book fair.
His Highness said:
“The opening of the 41st SIBF marks the beginning of a celebration of 12 days of cultural activities and is an opportunity for children, youth and families across the UAE to enrich their learning in arts and sciences, and forge close connections with cultures across the world through books of diverse genres at the fair.”
His Highness continued: “The past edition of the annual Sharjah International Book Fair witnessed the launch of 17 volumes of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language and this year, we are launching a new set of 19 volumes. These 36 volumes document nine letters of the Arabic alphabet and I would like to express my gratitude to the researchers, linguists, and experts for their untiring dedication and efforts that have led to this great accomplishment.”
The Sharjah Ruler also honoured Sudanese historian Yusuf Fadl Hasan, the SIBF 2022 ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ at the opening ceremony.
Power of the written word in building civilisations
HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA; SIBF 2022 Cultural Personality Yusuf Fadl Hasan; and Lorenzo Fanara, Italy’s Ambassador to the UAE, delivered keynote speeches at the opening ceremony. The Italian Ambassador represented Italy, the Guest of Honour nation of the 41st SIBF.
The inaugural ceremony commenced with an artistic show featuring a blend of creative digital imagery and live performances echoing the message of the importance of the word and its impact in building and nurturing civilisations. The show conveyed the key message of the SIBF 2022 theme, Spread the Word, with an inspiring commentary that said: “Everything begins with a word. The mind gives shape and form to the word through meaning which helps build civilisations and nurture generations.”
The inaugural ceremony also screened a short film documenting the progress of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. Representatives of various Arab Language Academies who had a pivotal role in producing the new volumes of the Corpus also took a group photograph with the Ruler of Sharjah at the event.
Largest book fair in the world
In his keynote address, SBA Chairman Ahmed Al Ameri announced that for the second year in a row, SIBF had emerged as the largest book fair in the world in terms of buying and selling copyrights in 2022.
The SBA Chairman said:
“The Sharjah International Book Fair has a history that spans 40 over years and has cemented the foundation of the emirate’s future for a century ahead! My hearty congratulations to Sharjah and the UAE on this momentous occasion! This feat is founded in the wise vision, unwavering support and relentless efforts of Your Highness… You have our sincere gratitude.”
SIBF has become the first in the region to top the world book fairs for the second year in a row in terms of buying and selling of copyrights. The distinguished honour comes as the three-day SIBF Publishers Conference that hosted 1,041 publishers and literary agents concluded with 958 tables set for the matchmaking meetings.
Distinguished honour
For his part, Sudanese historian Yusuf Fadl Hasan, expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah Ruler for conferring him with the distinguished honour of Cultural Personality of SIBF 2022.
He said:
“I recollect the visit of His Highness to Khartoum in 1974 and thank him for taking a keen interest in our work at the African and Asian Studies Institute. With deep gratitude, I remember his efforts to foster dialogue between the Arabic nations and African continent and for continuing to support this journey of communication amongst global cultures through hosting conferences and other events in Sharjah.”
Sharjah invests in culture
In his address, Lorenzo Fanara, Italy’s Ambassador to the UAE, asserted that Sharjah is the Cultural Capital of the world and has “spread the word of books and knowledge across nations.”
Thanking the Sharjah Ruler, the Italian Ambassador said: “Your Highness has sculpted the name of Sharjah in the history of culture.”
He added that through its activities as Guest of Honour at SIBF 2022, visitors can discover the common values shared between Italy and the Arab nations.
Describing how the roots of commonly used words and names in his home country are derived from Arabic, he said: “These names emphasise our common history. By sharing a common history, we share common values and through these cultural values, we can overcome divisive agendas and forge a future founded on openness and knowledge for the next generations.”
After the opening ceremony, His Highness toured the exhibition inspecting the stalls of participating publishing houses, including the Guest of Honour pavilion, where he was briefed on the events and activities that will be organised throughout the 12-day book fair.
Sultan bin Ahmed honours SIBF 2022 award-winners
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, honoured winners of the 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2022) awards on Wednesday during Day 1 activities of the book fair organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the slogan ‘Spread the word’ at Expo Centre Sharjah.
His Highness also honoured winners of the Sharjah Translation Award ‘Turjuman’ and the 14th edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature.
The Deputy Ruler honoured the Istituto Per l’Oriente C.A. Nallino, winner of the AED 1.3 million Sharjah Translation Award ‘Turjuman’, for their translation of Suleyman Al Boustani’s foreword of Homer’s Iliad into the Italian language. The award was received by Claudio Lo Lacono, Director of the institute.
His Highness also honoured winners of the SIBF awards, including Dr. Mashael Al Naboodah, who won the Best Emirati Novel Book award for her title ‘Jerah Mozmena’; Dr. Abdallah Sulaiman Al Mughani, who received the Best Emirati Academic Book award for his ‘Features of UAE’s History through the Writings of Western Travelers and Politicians’; and author Shaikha Saif Al Nakhi, winner of the Best Emirati Creative literature Book award for her title ‘Those Days’.
The Deputy Ruler also honoured Kuwaiti Author Muna Al Shimari, winner of Best Arabic Novel for her book Khademat Al Maqam; Angelika Dunsmore, Head of Sales, Penguin Group, on behalf of Penguin Random House, winners of the Best International Fiction Book award for the title Micro Life: Miracles of the miniature world revealed; and South African author Futhi Nsthinglia, winner of Best International Non-Fiction Book award for her book They Got You Too.
As for the Sharjah Publisher Recognition Award, Rewayat, an imprint of Kalimat, won the Best Local Publisher award. The Best Arab Publisher award went to Arab Diffusion Company from Lebanon while International Islamic Publishing House received the Best International Publisher award.
His Highness also honoured winners of the 14th edition of the AED 1.2 million Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature. The Early Reader award went to How do You Feel Today? by Massara Touqan, illustrated by Haya Halaw, and published by Kalila Wa Dimna Publishing House, Jordan; The Picture Book award was won by Kingdom of Antiquity by Manar Haza, illustrated by Basema Husam, and published by Alia publishing, Egypt; Whispers of Trees by Fay Mousa, illustrated by Fatima Madi, and published by Dar Asfar Publishing, Saudi Arabia won the Chapter Book award; The Young Adult Books award went to I’ll start now, do you hear me? by Anas Abu Rahma, illustrated by Lubna Taha, and published by Dinosaun Publishing, Palestine; while the Comics category was closed by Jurors for this edition.
SIBF 2022 awards jury committee comprised Sinan Sweis, Dr. Laila Familiar, Dr. Lina Merhej, Dr. Hanadi Salit, and Dr. Nusaiba Al Azaibi.
At the end of the ceremony, His Highness honoured SIBF partners and sponsors, including Etisalat from e&, which was received by Abdulaziz Taryam, CEO, Advisor and General Manager of Etisalat e& – Northern Emirates; Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, which was received by Rashid Abdullah Al Obad, Director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Expo Centre Sharjah, received by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Abu Dhabi Media, which was received by Mohammed Al Shehhi, Head of government communication.
SIBF 2022 opens on Wednesday, Hungary will be represented
The highly anticipated 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair kicks off on Wednesday under the slogan ‘Spread the Word’ and runs until November 13 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
The 12-day cultural extravaganza celebrates the world’s cultures by hosting a galaxy of distinguished authors, intellectuals, publishers, artists and creatives from 95 countries, and fetes Italy as the Guest of Honour of the 2022 edition.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the international book fair enables visitors to meet Booker Prize laureates, international screenwriters, and artists, in addition to exploring countries from around the world through publishers’ pavilions, Cookery Station, and a diverse agenda of activities that comprise musical performances, plays, and theatrical shows.
This year, SIBF 2022 is hosting 2,213 publishers, comprising 1,298 from the Arab region and 915 from around the world. The 41st edition will stage 123 awe-inspiring theatrical performances as well as musicals led by 22 artists and performers from eight countries, including six new programmes and more than 30 activities led by renowned Arab and international chefs.
‘Spread the Word’
Through SIBF 2022 slogan ‘Spread the Word’, the international book fair conveys the message: “Words can build the future and change realities, so befriend and stay close to them”. The 41st edition will showcase 1.5 million titles.
As part of the book fair’s cultural programme this year, SIBF will host 150 distinguished authors, intellectuals and creatives who will lead 1,500 activities and sessions including 200 activities encompassing workshops, talks, and seminars.
For children, SIBF 2022 will organise 623 activities, shows and workshops led by 45 professionals and experts from 14 countries, including ‘Toy Tale’, an exciting musical that explores the impact of children’s addiction to video games.
Meanwhile, comics enthusiasts and lovers will have an opportunity to participate in a whopping 188 activities and workshops covering 16 topics, in addition to four roaming shows. The activities and workshops cover topics as varied as NFTs, character creation, and chibified characters.
Amongst Arab publishers, the UAE tops the list followed by Egypt and Lebanon. On the international level, India, the UK, and Italy take the top positions and will showcase their titles across an 18,000 sq m area alongside Cuba, Costa Rica, Liberia, Philippines, Ireland, Malta, Mali, Jamaica, Iceland and Hungary, who are participating for the first time in SIBF, among others.
Sharjah International Library Conference and National Libraries Summit
In partnership with the American Library Association, SBA will host the second edition of the two-day National Libraries Summit at Expo Centre Sharjah on November 6–7, that will bring together delegates from 30 countries. The 9th Sharjah International Library Conference (SILC), running from November 8-10, will bring together an international group of librarians and experts representing various libraries in the US and countries around the world.
Arab and international guests
Prominent literary personalities from the UAE include author and poet Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union; poet Khulood Al Mualla; and poet and writer Ibrahim Al Hashemi. They will join their counterparts from the Arab region including Libyan novelist Mohamed Alnaas, winner of the 2022 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF); Mohamed Al-Ash’ari, poet and former Moroccan Minister of Culture and Communication; poet Hisham Algakh; author Ahmed Mourad; Dr. Ahmed Emara, Egyptian mental health and bioenergy consultant; screenwriter Hani Sarhan from Egypt; Kuwaiti poet Mohammed Jarallah Al-Sahli; and Algerian academic and writer Boumediene Belkebir.
A galaxy of literary stalwarts from around the world will also headline SIBF 2022. Prominent names here include Deepak Chopra, the New York Times bestselling author of Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth and Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential; Lincoln Pierce, cartoonist/writer and bestselling author of the hilarious Big Nate book series; Rupi Kaur, Canadian poet, illustrator, photographer, and author; and Pico Iyer, a British-born essayist and novelist.
Geetanjali Shree, Indian author and short story writer and winner of International Booker Prize 2022; D.J. Palmer, American author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels including The New Husband and My Wife is Missing; and Megan Hess, Australian fashion illustrator who has written and illustrated 16 best-selling books, will also be at SIBF this year.
Celebrating the legacy of Mahmoud Darwish
The 41st edition will showcase the iconic works and celebrate the lyrical, haunting and creative legacy of Palestine’s most eminent poet, Mahmoud Darwish, at a dedicated pavilion throughout the 12-day fair.
The pavilion will be managed by the Mahmoud Darwish Foundation, which is participating for the first time at SIBF.
New at SIBF 2022
The 41st edition will debut six new programmes, including a three-day Thriller Festival between November 8-10 to offer writers specialised in suspense and crime genres an opportunity to showcase their works and participate in workshops, discussion panels, and book signing sessions. The event is organised in partnership with ThrillerFest in New York.
The book fair will also organise the Young Emirati Writers Programme, which is a platform that provides support to budding writers to build and advance their skills through discussion sessions, poetry evenings, and more.
Responding to public demand, SIBF is organising a series of workshops for adults this year covering a variety of topics including photography, crafts, creative writing, and theatre.
For the first time at SIBF theatre, London Apartment – the critically acclaimed social satire from the GCC written by Issa Ahmad and directed by Mosa Arty, will be staged. The play’s cast includes Juma Ali, Mays Gumir, Shehab Johar, Shahad Salman and Mishal Al Eidan.
Cookery Corner
30 cookery activities throughout the book fair will be led by eminent chefs including Dr. Nourhan Kandil and Sally Fouad from Egypt; Cristina Bowerman, Alessandro Miceli, Damiano Carrar, and Luca Manfe from Italy; Indian chef Vicky Ratnani and Vindex Tengker from Indonesia.
Social Media Corner
A total of 30 workshops at SIBFs popular Social Media Station presented by 10 experts from seven countries will cover topics including social media strategies, creative content, and more.
Celebrating cultures
For the first time in its history, SIBF will celebrate the literary works of a distinguished group of authors and intellectuals at the ‘Diaspora Authors’ pavilion. Authors featured here include Prof. Habib Abdulrab Sarori, a Yemeni AI expert at the Mathematical and Software Engineering Department at the University of Rouen Normandy, France.
The book fair will also introduce visitors to the diverse and rich African continent through the African – Arab Cultural Programme, which brings together 17 eminent guests from Mali, Senegal and Nigeria in six activities, in addition to a special Philippines Cultural Programme that reflects the unique cultural traditions, arts and music of the island nation.
