Bodour wants new voices in publishing to be heard

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

‘The Sharjah Publishers Conference embodies our commitment to fostering a global publishing community’

Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), officially inaugurated the 14th Sharjah Publishers Conference at the Expo Centre Sharjah. This prestigious three-day event, organised by the SBA in collaboration with the International Publishers Association, precedes the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair set to begin on Wednesday.

The conference has drawn an impressive gathering of 1,065 publishers and literary agents, along with 74 speakers, representing a diverse array of 108 countries worldwide.

This global participation underscores the conference’s global importance as a major platform for international publishing professionals to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and explore publishing partnerships regarding rights, distribution and sales.

The conference began with an impactful speech by Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, in which she said, “The Sharjah Publishers Conference embodies our commitment to fostering a global publishing community that champions cross-border cultural exchange and innovation. As publishing navigates many rapid, wide-ranging changes, our role is to ensure that new voices can be heard, and that the industry evolves with integrity and inclusiveness. Together, we can continue building a publishing landscape that unites people across borders and celebrates the diversity of human stories.”

HONOURING THE WINNERS OF THE SHARJAH RIGHTS CONNECTION AWARDS: During the first day of the conference, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, honoured the winners of the 3rd Sharjah Rights Connection Awards, which aims to celebrate exceptional efforts in supporting and developing the publishing rights and translation sector.

The “Professionals working within publishing houses buying and selling translation rights” category was won by Kalem Agency, Turkey, represented by Nermin Mollaoğlu, Founder and Head of the agency.

As for the “Independent professionals or those employed by agencies involved in buying and selling these rights” category, it went to Ahmed Bedeir, General Manager at Dar El Shorouk in Egypt.

After a touching acknowledgement, a Special Appreciation Award was awarded to Bassam Chebaro, Founder of Arab Scientific Publishers, who sadly passed away in August. An Appreciation Award was also given to Bill Kennedy, Founder and Director of Avicenna Partnership Ltd. These appreciation awards were in recognition of their incredible efforts in promoting the publishing industry and knowledge exchange.

‘GLOCAL’ TRENDS ACROSS INTERNATIONAL MARKETS: The opening day featured an insightful conversation with Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer and CEO of International Foreign Language at HarperCollins Publishers, conducted by Porter Anderson of Publishing Perspectives magazine. Restivo-Alessi discussed the publishing industry’s growth potential and its symbiotic relationships with various sectors, emphasising the evidential role of books in enhancing global understanding and societal progress.

During the interview, she also discussed the evolving landscape of global publishing, explaining how many countries share similar genre interests, leading to a trend she calls “Glocal,” which highlights local adaptations of popular genres.

Restivo-Alessi expressed optimism about attracting new and younger readers through specific genres, stating, “Books have arguably become much more accessible than ever, allowing us to engage a broader audience. This accessibility is vital as we seek to draw in younger readers who may not have previously considered reading as a primary form of entertainment.”

“There has also been a major increase in the translation of international works into English, and these connections and relationships are often formed through networking at events like this publishers conference in Sharjah, forging essential partnerships that drive these collaborations forward,” she added.

IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBILITY IN PUBLISHING: The first day of the 14th Sharjah Publishers Conference featured a keynote speech by John Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Content Group and Chairman of Lightning Source, in conversation with Ed Nawotka, Senior Editor, International and Bookselling, Publishers Weekly. Ingram stressed the importance of accessibility in publishing, particularly for smaller-scale producers, and noted the need for timely delivery of works to consumers in today’s fast-paced market.