PUBLISHING HONOUR:

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi has become the first Arab woman to be chosen as the vicepresident of the International Publishers Association. Speaking in Frankfurt, she said she was “extremely proud” to take on the “great responsibility”.

sharjah — Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi was elected as vice-president of International Publishers Association (IPA) on Wednesday at the ongoing Frankfurt International Book Fair.

Sheikha Bodour thus becomes the first Arab woman to hold one of the top IPA leadership positions. Ana Maria Cabanellas was the only other female vice- president and president of the association (20042008) in the history of IPA.

Sheikha Bodour said: “I am extremely proud to take this great responsibility and this position will reflect positively on the Arab and international publishing experience. It entails me, along with publishers and world’s cultural bodies and institutions, to take on new responsibilities that require cooperation to create a thriving business environment on the local, Arab and global fronts,” Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said.

Sheikha Bodour is known for her rich portfolio in serving the publishing sector. She founded Kalimat Group, the UAE’s first publishing house dedicated solely to publishing Arabic children’s books. She is also the founder and president of Emirates Publishers Association, which she led to gain IPA’s full member- ship in 2012, and was elected as the first Arab woman to serve on IPA’s executive committee.

Sheikha Bodour also founded the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).

Sheikha Bodour will succeed Mexico’s Hugo Setzer, who held the vice-president post from 2016 to 2018. —

I am extremely proud to take this great responsibility and this position will reflect positively on the Arab and international publishing experience.” Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al

Qasimi, founder, Kalimat Group