Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) recently participated in the 76th Frankfurt International Book Fair (FIBF). Their involvement aimed to explore partnerships with European and international publishers. SPC Free Zone showcased its specialised services for the creative industry, emphasising Sharjah’s role as a cultural and innovative hub. The event also highlighted investment opportunities in Sharjah’s creative sectors.
During the fair, SPC Free Zone presented its comprehensive services at the emirate’s pavilion. These include streamlined business setup, licensing processes, and advanced facilities for authors, publishers, and translators. Professionals from Europe and beyond showed keen interest in these offerings. This engagement paved the way for potential collaborations and knowledge exchange with key stakeholders from the UAE and global publishing sectors.
The free zone engaged in high-level discussions with international publishers about expanding into Middle Eastern markets through Sharjah. These meetings focused on Sharjah’s investment-friendly environment and SPC Free Zone’s extensive services. Currently, SPC Free Zone holds over 11,487 active licenses from 154 countries across various creative industry sectors.
Saif Al Suwaidi, Director of SPC Free Zone, stated, “Our participation in the 2024 Frankfurt International Book Fair is a key step in fulfilling our mission to position Sharjah as a leading global hub for culture and creativity, under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority.”
The event provided an invaluable platform for SPC Free Zone to engage with global industry leaders. It allowed them to showcase their state-of-the-art services and facilities while reinforcing support for professionals across creative industries. The goal is to enable these professionals to start and expand their businesses by leveraging Sharjah’s strategic geographic location.
Throughout the event, SPC Free Zone actively sought new collaboration avenues with stakeholders from both local and international publishing sectors. This effort aims to foster promising future partnerships that can benefit all parties involved.
The participation at FIBF was part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties between Arab and European publishers. It also aimed to cement Sharjah’s status as an international hub for culture and innovation while showcasing lucrative investment opportunities available within its creative industries.
