Sharjah: Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, visited on Sunday the Sharjah International Book Fair, where Morocco is guest of honor at the 43rd edition. The Minister and his accompanying delegation, which includes the CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed Tazi, and the Director of Archives du Maroc, Latifa Moftaqir, started their visit at the Moroccan pavilion. They were briefed on its various sections, including heritage and manuscripts, historical maps, an area dedicated to the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Rabat’s Cultural Heritage, and a selection of books on themes relating to Moroccan culture, its tributaries, components, and key personalities.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Bensaid took the opportunity to visit the Fair’s stands, including those of Moroccan publishing houses. The Minister told the press that Morocco being chosen as guest of honor at the Fair comes at a time w
hen Moroccan-Emirati ties, under the Wise leadership of the two Heads of State, are undergoing a qualitative leap forward, raising culture to the level of other fields.

In this respect, Bensaid noted that the two sides are called to implement innovative mechanisms that could elevate cultural ties to the rank of the political and economic ties between the two brotherly countries. The Fair provides an opportunity for Moroccan publishers to promote their products and to forge relations with their peers from Arab and foreign countries, especially as this cultural event is considered one of the biggest publishing markets in the world, the Minister added.

He stated that there are several ideas and joint projects that will help to launch an advanced stage of coordination, cooperation, and exchange of expertise, particularly in books, adding this aims to give substance to any initiative capable of broadening the prospects for joint action between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. On the sideline
s of this visit, the Minister and the CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority held talks on examining the mechanisms for joint action to raise the level of cultural ties and support various initiatives, notably in the cultural and creative industries, which Morocco is setting up as an important project within the framework of the cultural economy.