PublisHer and Visa agree to unite on projects supporting UAE women in publishing

PublisHer, the international organisation aiming to address entrenched gender imbalances and drive a worldwide agenda for change within the global publishing industry, has signed an agreement with Visa, a world leader in digital payments.

The aim of the agreement is to enhance each other’s endeavours and support women in publishing and entrepreneurial spaces.

Signed by PublisHer Founder and Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, and Dr Saeeda Jaffar, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), on the sidelines of the 2024 Sharjah International Booksellers Conference, this agreement will provide the UAE’s women with educational opportunities, mentorship sessions, market insights, and professional advice to help them better establish themselves in regional and international business ecosystems.

Marking the first venture in this important collaboration, Visa has sponsored the “PublisHer Lounge” at the 2024 Sharjah International Booksellers Conference, and arranged workshops for female publishers in partnership with the International Trade Centre’s SheTrades Initiative, She Trades.

Featuring speakers from the publishing and business sectors, the lounge provides unique access to informative and educational sessions for women in publishing on how they can achieve their career and business goals, and offer advice on professional presentation, opportunities to receive personal style guidance, and a business portrait.

Sheikha Bodour, Dr Saeeda Jaffar (third from R) and other officials after the ceremony. WAM

Later this year, the “PublisHer Lounge” – in partnership with Visa, will also feature at the Sharjah International Book Fair as part of PublisHer’s extensive programme of events.

Further, PublisHer will support Visa in running the next cycle of the “She’s Next” project, focusing on the publishing sector.

“She’s Next” is Visa’s global advocacy programme which supports women-owned small businesses through funding, training, and mentorship. PublisHer will be a collaborative partner for the project, providing a unique insight into issues surrounding gender disparity, both regionally and internationally.

Commenting on this partnership, Bodour Al Qasimi said, “The ability to collaborate closely with strategic partners has been a key part of PublisHer’s success since its establishment in 2019. We are, therefore, delighted to collaborate with Visa, and work alongside them as we strive to address pervasive gender imbalances in our respective sectors. The aims and ambitions of both PublisHer and Visa – through the She’s Next project, are aligned in many ways. By signing this agreement, we are better placed to enhance our support and provide to women in publishing and in business.”

Dr Saeeda Jaffar said, "Visa is thrilled to announce this partnership with PublisHer, a groundbreaking organisation focused on rectifying gender imbalances in global publishing. This collaboration amplifies our commitment to supporting women in publishing and entrepreneurship. Our She's Next, and a separate stream for female publishers — a first-of-its-kind venture, underscores this commitment. With PublisHer's support, we aim to empower women-owned businesses through the 'She’s Next' programme, offering funding, training, and mentorship. Together, we are committed to fostering equity and inclusion in the publishing industry."

Wile welcoming over 550 professionals to the 3rd annual Sharjah International Booksellers Conference on Saturday, Sheikha Bodour urged publishers, distributors, and booksellers to stay open and interconnected as the industry faces rapid technological shifts, changing consumer preferences, intense online competition, and economic pressures.

While presenting her opening remarks for the 2-day conference currently underway in Sharjah, Sheikha Bodour stated “The remarkable success of this conference, despite its young age, speaks volumes about the necessity for specialised platforms where we can come together, listen to each other, and shape a vision for the future.”

The international conference has attracted professionals from around the globe and speaking on the commitment of Sharjah to advancing the global book industry, encompassing bookselling, publishing, distribution, and beyond, the SBA Chairperson asserted, “Look around you: this conference is a microcosm of global collaboration, featuring professionals from Africa, the Arab region, Asia, South America, and Europe. It is this diversity that propels our industry forward, igniting innovation and fostering growth.”

After inaugurating the third edition of the conference, Sheikha Bodour toured the conference’s distributor and publisher pavilions, where she engaged with participants, exploring their initiatives in expanding book distribution, and actively listened to their insights on the current challenges within the publishing and distribution industries.

WAM