The Union of Jordanian Publishers (UJP) has been granted full membership to the International Publishers Association (IPA), the world’s most prestigious organisation dedicated to publishing. The organisation secured their position after winning a majority vote at the IPA’s general assembly, which was held on the side-lines of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2017. The UJP joined the IPA as an observer member in 2015 and over the last two years has dedicated itself to fulfilling the criteria for permanent membership.
Engineer Khaled Al Balbisi, Jordan’s representative and UJP’s delegate, emphasised that joining the IPA is another significant step towards elevating the publishing sector and the book industry in Jordan. He said that it was a result of the country’s adoption of international design and quality standards and its commitment to conventions that support intellectual rights and freedom of publishing.
Founded in 1896 in Paris, the IPA is based in Geneva, Switzerland and comprises publishers’ associations from more than 70 countries. The UJP’s permanent membership to the IPA is expected to boost Jordan’s publishing industry and encourage the issuance of legislation that supports freedom of expression, authorship, publishing and intellectual rights.