Page 80 - MINISTRY OF CULTURE PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025

Under the patronage and presence of

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi The First

International Reprographic Rights

Conference Kicks Off in the UAE

February 19, 2025 15

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Honorary President of the Emirates Reprographic
Rights Management Association (ERRA), inaugurated the activities of the first International

Reprographic Rights Conference in the United Arab Emirates, organised by ERRA over two
days at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, in collaboration with the

Ministry of Economy (MOE) and the International Federation of Reprographic Rights
Organisations (IFRRO).

The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq
Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the UAE, and Majd Al Shehhi, Director of the ERRA,
alongside a group of international experts specialising in collective reprographic

management, intellectual property, and the creative industries. The event also witnessed a
gathering of writers, publishers, creative business owners, and academics.

Creativity as a driving force for development:

In her opening remarks, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi emphasised that the UAE,
with its ambitious vision and knowledge-based economy, recognises that reprographic rights
protection is both a legal obligation and a necessity for a flourishing creative economy and

the promotion of innovation. She highlighted that intellectual property rights are the

fundamental pillar that allows creators to transform their ideas into sustainable projects,
enriching both the cultural and economic landscape.