Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation aims to create new business and investment opportunities in the publishing industry with the launch of the Dubai International Children's Book Fair next month.

The expo, which runs from February 3 to 10, will also support the development of children's literature in the Arab World.

The Book Fair will serve as a high-profile platform that will generate greater awareness about the importance of children's literature as a key component in the development of the youth throughout the Arab World.

The fair will provide a convenient and centralised business-to-business networking platform for regional and international publishers to access a wide range of business tools and support facilities that will enable them to pursue gainful business prospects in publishing children's books in the Arab World.

The exhibition will also have dedicated segments for teachers, parents, librarians, reader development experts, child literature scholars and publishers to interact and explore new ideas and concepts in developing innovative reading materials for Arab children, he added.

Adel Al Shared, Foundation vice chairman and managing director, said, 'In line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, youth development has been made an important component in Dubai's long-term strategic development plan.'

'Through the Book Fair, we expect to gather the best minds in the literary world as well as leading publishers from the region and beyond to discuss various opportunities and possibilities and address challenges in the development of children's literature.'

'This exhibition will act as a catalyst in realising our goal of establishing a truly comprehensive youth development programme not just for Dubai but for the entire Arab World,' he added.

Jamal Al Shehhi, CEO of Dubai International Children’s Book Fair, said the exhibition aims to inspire the Arab youth to become avid readers and knowledge seekers by bringing world-class literary works to the region.-TradeArabia News Service