SHARJAH, 10 November 2022 (WAM) — Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), received and welcomed Liselott Andersson, Ambassador of Sweden to the United Arab Emirates, at the 41st Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) and discussed exploring opportunities to strengthen cultural cooperation and exchange between the emirate and cities in Sweden.
During the ambassador’s visit to Sharjah, the two sides emphasized the importance of culture to strengthen cooperation and communication and forge close ties between nations.
SBA Chairman Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri said: “Sharjah’s emphasis on cross-cultural cooperation as a tool to strengthen ties and promote cooperation with different cultures and countries worldwide is in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Councilor and Ruler of Sharjah. The values instilled by literature and art in societies are hard to eradicate. That is why we are keen to build bridges between different countries around the world through knowledge, art and books as these have a sustainable development impact on communities.”
Al Ameri further briefed the Swedish Ambassador about the achievements of the SBA, including organizing the largest book fair in the world, which is witnessing a huge number of visitors from various nationalities in its ongoing 41st edition. The Chairman also briefed the Ambassador on the strengths and diversity of the emirate’s arts and culture landscape and SBA’s unwavering efforts to promote the publishing sector regionally and internationally.
Liselott Andersson said: “I am pleased with the Swedish participation in the annual book fair. I think SIBF is a fantastic platform that brings the world together and is one of the most international ‘places’ I have ever visited!”
The Swedish ambassador expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation between Swedish institutions and the SBA, including the Nobel Foundation, a private Swedish institution that administers the Nobel Prize, and noted that Tanzanian author Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, hosted SIBF in 2021.
Source: sn.dk