[photo bod max-width=600=Kalimat Group, a publishing house in the emirate of Sharjah in the U.A.E., has announced a strategic partnership with Penguin Random House India. Under the agreement, PRH India will translate a range of Arabic literary works by Kalimat Group into English for global distribution. In addition, Kalimat will translate a selection of titles from the PRH catalogues in South Asia and South East Asia into Arabic.
"We’re thrilled to enter a partnership with one of the biggest names in the world of publishing at a time of increasing appetite for Arabic works and translations," said Bodour Al Qasimi, founder and CEO of Kalimat Group and most recent past president of the International Publishers Association. "Working together, we can find new audiences, increase the reach of our authors, and enrich the international publishing landscape, which is to the benefit of readers in many markets.’
Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO of Penguin Random House India and SEA, added: "Kalimat Group has achieved unprecedented success under the formidable vision, guidance, and leadership of Sheikha Bodour. We are delighted to partner with them as we have long admired the publishing program they have created, one we will continue to build on together. With this collaboration, we are excited to bring new experiences to our readers and widen the scope of translated literature. Literature cannot survive in solitude, and its growth depends on transcending borders set by geography and languages."
The partnership follows the addition of Shrinagesh and former PRH global CEO Markus Dohle to the newly formed board of the Sharjah Book Authority. Both participated in the Sharjah Booksellers Conference in May.
