Doha, September 15 (QNA) - The Arab Book Award entered into a cooperation agreement Tuesday with the Arab Publishers Association to reinforce the bilateral partnership in support of the Arab book and publishing industry.
The pact also intends to broaden the prospects for cooperation in publishing, events, panel discussions and expertise exchange, thereby helping support Arab authors and publishers, in addition to promoting the presence of the Arab book at Arab and international exhibitions.
The pact was co-signed during a press conference at the headquarters of Qatar Press Center by Executive Director of Arab Book Award Dr. Naji Al Sharif and Chair of the Arab Relations Committee at Arab Publishers Association Dr. Aisha Jassim Al Kuwari.
This signing was an outgrowth of combined efforts that had been underway throughout the past period between both sides in pursuit of setting a framework for cooperation in an array of fields related to the book and publishing industry, as well as capitalizing on the shared accumulated expertise in support of authors, publishers and book-related enterprises.
Speaking at the conference, Al Sharif said the pact culminates multi-period efforts with Head of the Association Prof. Mohamed Rashad, with the objective of reaching an effective partnership between the two sides.
The Award is working to forge partnerships with multiple Arab institutions, Al Sharif said, adding that it has signed an agreement since 2025 with Bait Al Zubair Foundation in the Sultanate of Oman, while also working on other agreements with entities and institutions in several Arab nations.
Al Sharif further emphasized that the Association has been the fulcrum of this award, owing to its role in taking care of Arab intellectuals, writers and publishers, in addition to supporting publishing activities and trumpeting Arab publications at Arab and global exhibitions.
  He added that the areas of cooperation stipulated in the pact include supporting the Arab book through publishing, whether for individual authors or institutions, as well as cooperation in cultural activities, panel discussions and events, and drawing on the expertise available through the Award and the Association.
The broader goal of this partnership is to strengthen the Arab book industry and broaden the scope of initiatives that serve authors and publishers, providing greater opportunities to project Arab literary production to readers both within the region and beyond.
For her part, Dr. Al Kuwari underscored the importance of this pact as a consequential step toward strengthening cooperation between two institutions concerned with books and the publishing industry and unlocking broader prospects for joint work that serves authors, publishers and the Arab book.
She further highlighted that the agreement covers cooperation in several areas related to the Arab book, including supporting publishing, authors and publishers, exchanging expertise, organizing cultural events, and drawing on the professional expertise of both sides.
Such partnerships can help launch new initiatives and develop programs that serve the book industry and support its presence in the Arab cultural theatre, Dr. Al Kuwari said.
Dr. Al Kuwari added that since its inception in 1962, the Association has been accumulating institutional expertise and can be a true partner when it comes to executing shared initiatives with the Award, whether in terms of activities and panel discussions or through studies and research related to the publishing industry.
This will inevitably help the Arab book become ubiquitous at both Arab and international exhibitions and cultural venues, Dr. Al Kuwari assured.
  For her part, media advisor for the Arab Book Award Prof. Dr. Hanan Al Fayyad said supporting the Arab book represents an important avenue for preserving Arab cultural identity, stressing that the award's mission is to support authored Arab books, whether published by individuals, centers or publishing houses.
The multiplicity of institutions, awards and initiatives dedicated to the Arab book represents a crucial mainstay of the Arab publishing industry, Dr. Al Fayyad underscored, emphasizing the importance of specialized awards in domains such as translation and children's books, alongside the instrumental role played by the Association in backing publishers and participating in Arab book fairs.
The challenge isn't solely linked to the book, but rather to the cultural surrounding theatre and methods of maintaining the reading approach in an age where content is dramatically consumed, coupled with constant mobility between platforms, Al Fayyad said.
Director of the Qatar National Library and Vice President of the Arab Publishers Association Ibrahim Al Buhaishim Al Sayed said print books continue to maintain their place despite the widespread use of digital media.
He elucidated that maintaining their connection with younger generations requires an active role from libraries and cultural institutions. (QNA)