Doha: May 11 - A number of Omani writers commended the great role played by the State of Qatar in enhancing the Arab cultural scene. This came during a symposium organized today by the Sultanate of Omans pavilion, guest of honor of the 33rd session of the Doha International Book Fair, which is being held under the theme "Knowledge Builds Civilizations" at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center until May 18. A number of Omani writers participated in the symposium, including the translator Ahmed Al Muaini, the winner of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding for the year 2015, the poet Badriya Al Badriya, the winner of the Katara Prize for Prophet's Poet 2021, and Bushra Khalfan, the winner of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel 2022. It was moderated by the poet Badriya Al Amriya. The symposium discussed the experiences of Omani writers participating in the symposium and the impact of these awards on the Arab scene and literary and cultural production in the Arab world. Tra nslator Ahmed Al Muaini, the winner of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding for the year 2015, said that every award in the creative field represents an encouragement for the writer. He added that the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding is distinguished as it was able to present a fairly integrated model, with each edition focusing on a specific language such as French, Turkish, German, etc. This also allows those working in the field of translation to compete because it is not only concerned with a specific language, he said. For her part, Bushra Khalfan, the winner of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel 2022, said that countries today realize the importance of these prizes and their cultural role, stressing that these awards represent a shining sign and a badge for the writer. Source: Qatar News Agency