Friday, Mar 24, 2017

Sharjah: UAE publisher Kalimat Group signed a memorandum of understanding with French publisher Gallimard to promote the translation of Arabic and French titles, on the sidelines of the Paris Book Fair on March 23.

The agreement was signed by Shaikha Budoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, and Hedwige Pasquet, president of Gallimard Jeuness. The move will enable Arabic and French readers to experience new genres and insights, which have previously been closed to them because of language barriers.

The collaboration will see both companies exchanging an equal number of books each year, with Kalimat Group translating Gallimard’s works into Arabic and Gallimard reciprocating by translating Kalimat Group’s titles into French. Starting with 10 books from each publisher’s list, the project will include books for children, novels for young adults, besides other works of fiction and comics.

“Since its inception, Kalimat Group has been keen to extend the reach of Arabic literature and culture through a commitment to enhancing cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue between nations,” said Shaikha Budoor.

She pointed out that Gallimard’s record of innovation in the field of international publishing will be instrumental in achieving Kalimat’s vision, which aims to promote Arab culture globally. It will also aid in Kalimat’s vision to forge new communication channels for cultural exchange by translating titles to and from Arabic and French.

“The Editions Gallimard Jeunesse are carried by people sharing the same demanding ideal — authors, illustrators, translators, designers and editors — and the same ambition to put the best of imaginary, artistic creation and knowledge into the service of children and teenagers. This partnership with Kalimat will contribute to the reciprocal enrichment of our cultures through young readers, an essential investment to prepare the world of tomorrow,” said Pasquet.

Since its founding more than a century ago, Gallimard has achieved recognition as one of the most prolific and influential publishing houses in France. Its catalogue includes a number of writers who have received the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer Prize.

The new partnership with Gallimard is the latest in a series of initiatives by Kalimat Group, which recently teamed up with Quatro, the global illustrated book publisher, and more recently Bloomsbury, the leading worldwide publishing house, with similar agreements.

Sharjah-based Kalimat Group holds a number of leading imprints in Arabic literature publishing under its umbrella. The group is comprised of Kalimat — the first publishing house in the UAE dedicated solely to publishing and distributing high quality Arabic children’s books targeting children up to 16 years old. It also includes Horouf, which is dedicated to publishing printed books and smart applications that offer a modern integrated education system in the Arabic language, and was established in 2013.

The latest additions of Kalimat are ‘Rewayat,’ specialised in chapter books targeting adults and young adults and ‘Maktaba,’ a literary cafe that has been designed to offer a unique environment that encourages the culture of reading.

Staff Report

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