Al-Amiri: We hope that we will come up with promising visions that serve the book industry
Publishers Conference ... a look of optimism and hope that comes from Sharjah
Participants in the "Books in Translation: Searching for New Audiences" session.
From the source
Head of "Sharjah Book": "Publishing is as much a creative industry that serves cultural reality, but it is an industry that needs plans and standards to advance its reality."
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The head of the Sharjah Book Authority, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, confirmed that the conditions the world is witnessing due to the Corona crisis have demonstrated the need for the publishing sector to expand opportunities for cooperation and joint work between Arab and foreign publishers, pointing to the need to respond to the rapid technical changes and study the market situation and readers ’directions Not only at the local or regional level, but also at the global level.
Al-Amri added, during the opening of the tenth session of the Publishers Conference, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority until tomorrow, with the participation of 317 publishers and 33 speakers from around the world: “Through this conference, we renew our commitment to the vision and orientations of the Sharjah Cultural Project, which was established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan. Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and we affirm that the book is able to overcome all the challenges that pass the world, and the nations' need for the book is a need for advancement and the making of a safer and more civilized future.
During the conference, publishers will discuss a number of topics that shed light on the challenges facing the publishing sector in the Arab world and the world in light of the Corona crisis, the mechanism for publishers' adaptation to it, and the impact of social media and virtual events in enhancing communication between publishers and readers alike.
Al-Amiri added: “Today we open a new page from the Publishers’ Conference to confirm that the publishing industry is just as much a creative industry that serves cultural reality, but it is an industry that needs plans and standards to advance its reality, expand its impact and the size of its contribution to the economies of countries. Promising to serve the current book industry and its future, in light of all the changes and circumstances that we have witnessed, finally, and we still live with them, because we believe that the achievements and successes are the product of hard and integrated work, and we have great confidence in all workers in this creative industry to bring it to more developed and prosperous horizons.
Survive and thrive
On its first day, the Publishers Conference featured a session entitled “Spotlight on Global Publishing: Surviving and Prospering During the Pandemic,” hosted by Lisa Milton, executive publisher in Harlequin, from the United Kingdom, Nicholas Roche, general manager of Bev Publishing in France, and Ravi Dessi, CEO. For the "DC Box" company in India, and Sherif Bakr, Director of Dar Al Arabi Publishing and Distribution in Egypt, to discuss ways to find promising prospects that serve the advancement of the book industry, and the role of social media in creating opportunities for dialogue between publishers and other axes.
Lisa Milton began her speech in the session that publishers at this time are striving to facilitate communication and strengthen capabilities between them and their counterparts around the world, because of its impact in removing challenges and obstacles.
She said: “The e-book market witnessed a great boom during the pandemic, and enjoyed a great spread and presence at the global level, which makes it imperative for publishers today to search for new ways to promote their work, and to double work in order to create an innovative mechanism to access knowledge in the minds of readers and to overcome various obstacles.”
For his part, Nicolas Roche said: “Sales of the publishing sector in France reached more than 550,000 books before the outbreak of the pandemic, and libraries were crowded with visitors, but what the pandemic imposed had stopped this movement, and during this time of the year the book markets were flourishing, but we are looking at Aside from governments for a mechanism to advance the reality of publishing ».
For his part, Ravi Desi said: “We made a great effort during the pandemic to deliver the book to people, as there is a lot of diversity in terms of titles in India, and because we were keen to overcome these challenges, we launched a smart application that carried about 65,000 people, and concluded cooperation with audiobook companies, This gave the local publishing market a strong push to get out of the crisis caused by the epidemic. ”
For his part, Sherif Bakr said: “We faced some challenges in terms of local publishing, and this is expected during this pandemic that affected publishers around the world, but we can say that there are many hopes looming on the horizon, and the opportunity still exists for all publishers to continue working for Upgrading this reality, as the Internet today opened a large vital area for the exchange of knowledge and ideas to advance the book industry.
The second session
The second session, titled “The Future Publishing Hub: How Virtual Events and Social Media Connect Publishers and Readers Around the World,” was hosted by Gvantsa Gopava, Director of International Relations, Intelligence Publishing in Georgia, and Judith Kaur, President and Publisher of Harper One. »In the United States, Khawla Al Majini, General Coordinator, Sharjah International Book Fair.
Jobafa confirmed that the conference today presents an outlook of optimism and hope for the advancement of the book industry, noting that the pandemic has brought publishers closer to each other, and has contributed to the exchange of experiences and opening horizons for discussion on many problems and issues and finding solutions to them.
While Bartholomew indicated that books have benefited people during the pandemic, social media has contributed to providing gatherings for book-goers and creating an opportunity to compensate for the closures imposed by the spread of the pandemic.
While Khawla Al-Majini said: “The Sharjah Book Authority, since its inception in 2014, has set its sights on the need to advance the reality of the book and its industry, and to advance societal development. The Sharjah International Book Fair was able to create a promising cultural climate for the book industry and upgrading it, in line with the cultural position of the emirate.” .
New fans
The third session of the Publishers ’Conference, yesterday, entitled“ Translated Books: Searching for New Audiences, ”with the participation of: Hassan Yaghi, owner and director of the Tanweer Publishing House from Lebanon, Marcia Lynx Kwale, editor and founder of Arab Lee in Morocco, and Sandra Tamil, Founder and editor of "Iditora Trenta Zero Nove" in Mozambique, and managed by Trevor Naylor, assistant director in the publishing department at the American University in Cairo. Participants discussed the importance of caring for translation and presenting works that enrich international libraries and introduce peoples' cultures.
Hassan Yaghi emphasized the importance of book fairs in the Arab world for publishers, as they are an essential link with readers, explaining that “there are no known distribution and sales channels for publishers except through exhibitions.
The conditions of the epidemic have weakened censorship on copyright and increased the circulation of pirated works, ”considering that the biggest crime that occurs in Arab culture is the theft of translated books.
Perminder Man: The pandemic will pass
The CEO of Bonaire Books in the United Kingdom, Berminder Mann, said in a speech during the opening of the forum: “The (Corona) pandemic has imposed great challenges on the whole world, and affected the publishing sector that has not stopped publishing books, which has had a great impact. In the economic climate, this is why we seek to overcome all these challenges facing the industry, by continuing to present business in a way that serves readers around the world and advances their ideas and knowledge. We also aspire to employ all the opportunities available to us to advance the book market.
She added, "Despite all the circumstances that are going on in the world, the publishing sector is still moving towards the better. It is imperative that we turn all the challenges it faces into opportunities and focus on future ideas, as the pandemic will pass, and we must continue to work to develop the publishing sector environment."
Berminder appreciated the role of the Sharjah Book Authority in organizing this conference, despite the surrounding circumstances, and expected that the next year would carry many hopes that contribute to the revival of the book industry.
The conference brings together 317 publishers and 33 speakers from around the world.
The conference reveals the impact of the Corona crisis on the book, and reviews the experiences of publishers from around the world.
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