The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) is making their presence felt at 29th Congress of the International Publishers Association (IPA), which kicked off in Cape Town, South Africa, on 12 June.

EPA President and Head of the delegation HE Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi commented, "The International Publishers Congress is one of the most important platforms for communication and the exchange of knowledge and expertise within the global publishing community. Through our presence here the EPA is looking to make full use of the opportunity to discuss various issues affecting the publishing industry with a number of publishers from all over the world, as well as capitalising on the numerous sessions and activities that the Congress has on offer."

Sheikha Bodour, whose efforts were at the head of the EPA's formation in 2009, went on to add that the EPA will continue to take part in international events as part of their on going strategy to promote the UAE and greater Middle East region's burgeoning publishing industry, and work to encourage even faster growth within the sector.

This 29th Congress of the International Publishers Association, is being held from the 12th to the 14th of June in the week preceding the 6th Cape Town Book Fair, and features no less than twenty seminars, and discussions spread over the three days. With the theme, Publishing for a New Era, the issues under discussion include the opportunities for and challenges of digital publishing, the impact and implications of the slow recovery from the current economic recession, and the possible threats of state publishing and raging debates on copyright law and intellectual property rights. 

The congress programme consists of both Plenary as well as Parallel Breakaway sessions covering topics such as Publishing & Public Policy; E-Books; New Media Strategies; International Trade Issues - Publishing Across Borders and Digital Migration in Educational Publishing, all presented by leaders in their field. Sheikha Bodour will also be participating as a main speaker during session 16, Children's Books for Cyber Kids, on day three of the Congress.

Members of the delegation, which include Mr Ali Obeid Bin Hatem, EPA Vice President, and Mr Jamal Alshehhi EPA Board Member, as well as Ahmed Al Amri, SIBF Director and Salim Omar Salim, SIBF Head of Sales, in addition to the representatives from the Executive office of Sheikha Bodour, Cultural Program Manager Khulood Al Nuaimi and Corporate Communications Executive Ahmed Al Suwaidi, are scheduled to take part in various seminars and activities, and during the three day congress, as well as meeting will several industry representatives.