Sharjah24: Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) concluded a successful participation in the 76th Frankfurt International Book Fair (FIBF) after exploring cooperation opportunities with European and international publishers and highlighting its specialised services catering to the creative industry to visitors and exhibitors. The participation, as part of the emirate’s pavilion at the global event, aimed to strengthen collaboration between Arab and European publishers, cement Sharjah’s status as an international hub for culture and innovation and showcase the lucrative investment opportunities it offers to the creative industries.
Comprehensive services to drive industry growth
During its participation, professionals from Europe and beyond showed significant interest in SPC Free Zone’s publishing, printing, and distribution offerings, showcased at the emirate’s pavilion. The free zone presented its extensive services, including streamlined business setup, licensing processes, and advanced facilities tailored to support authors, publishers, and translators. Throughout the event, they actively explored new avenues for collaboration and knowledge exchange with key stakeholders from the UAE and the global publishing sector, paving the way for promising future partnerships.
Strategic bilateral meetings
SPC Free Zone engaged in high-level bilateral meetings with prominent international publishers, focusing on strategic expansion into Middle Eastern markets via Sharjah. Discussions highlighted the emirate’s investment-friendly environment and SPC Free Zone’s services and facilities, which currently has more than 11,487 active licenses from 154 countries across various sectors within the creative industries.
Bolstering Sharjah’s status as a global cultural hub
Saif Al Suwaidi, Director of SPC Free Zone, said: “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 to engage with global industry leaders, showcase our state-of-the-art services and facilities, and reinforce the support we offer to professionals across the creative industries, enabling them to start and expand their businesses, in addition to tapping into regional and international markets leveraging the emirate’s geographic location.”
Advanced services and facilities
Beyond fostering international partnerships, the SPC Free Zone plays a pivotal role in Sharjah’s economic diversification by creating job opportunities and advancing the UAE’s publishing sector. The free zone is home to many businesses that actively support the growth of the publishing industry and drive investment in creative sectors, reinforcing Sharjah’s status as a prime destination for global companies seeking to expand in the Middle East.
