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Dubai: Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has hailed the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation's role in promoting Arab intellectual output.
She also praised its series of initiatives to support aspiring Arab publishers.
Cherie Blair's statement came during a gala ceremony on Wednesday held on the sidelines of the London Book Fair to announce winners of the International Young Publishing Entrepreneur (IYPE) Awards, organised by British Council in collaboration with the leading European book fair. Among nine Arab publishers nominated for the awards, five were shortlisted. Nashwan Al Maghafi, Yemen Bookshop (Yemen), was the award winner.
Applauding the Foundation's initiative to publish 10 titles for each Arab publishing house shortlisted for the awards, Cheri Blair also praised its commitment to buy 1,500 books of each of the published titles.
Earlier in the day, the Foundation honoured the five Arab publishers shortlisted for the prestigious international awards. Apart from Nashwan Al Maghafi, Mansoor Abulhoul, Jerboa Books (UAE); Karim Elias, Elias Publishing House (Egypt); Nadine Touma, Dar Onboz (Lebanon); Thuraya Batterjee, Kadi & Ramadi Publishing House (Saudi Arabia) and Al Maghafi, received special commendation from the Foundation.
Cooperation
Yasser Hareb, Vice-President for Culture, at the Foundation, said: "It is heartening to see Arab publishers making a convincing mark in the industry on the international level. The publishing sector is a major partner in our endeavour to build the region's intellectual capabilities. The Foundation is keen to acknowledge the remarkable achievements accomplished by key stakeholders in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the Arab world."
Speaking on behalf of the five honoured publishers, Nashwan A. Al Maghafi, winner of the International Young Publishing Entrepreneur award, appreciated of the Foundation's gesture.
He said: "We are touched by the acknowledgement that expresses the Foundation's support of the Arab publishers.
"We are highly impressed by the Foundation's vision towards building the Arab world's knowledge assets. We look forward to cooperating with the Foundation to help achieve its strategic objectives in enhancing the Arab intellectual output."
The Foundation was a key participant at the London Book Fair, which was held from April 14 to 16. It provided ideal opportunities for senior Foundation officials to interact with leading figures in the international publishing and distribution industry, while showcasing its 'Oktub' (Write) and 'Tarjem' (Translate) programmes.
The Foundation was opened in May 2007 with an endowment of $10 billion (about Dh36.7 billion) to invest in a series of programmes that provide the necessary infrastructure and set the appropriate environment for knowledge creation in the Arab world.
The publishing sector is a major partner in our endeavour to build the region's intellectual capabilities."
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