Sharjah: 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.
According to Emirates News Agency, the conference has drawn an impressive gathering of 1,065 publishers and literary agents, along with 74 speakers, representing 108 countries worldwide. This global participation underscores the conference’s 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 a speech by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, where she highlighted the commitment to fostering a global publishing community that supports cross-border cultural exchange and i
nnovation. She emphasized the need to ensure that new voices are heard and that the industry evolves with integrity and inclusiveness, aiming to unite people across borders through diverse human stories.
During the first day, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, honoured the winners of the 3rd Sharjah Rights Connection Awards. The awards celebrate exceptional efforts in supporting and developing the publishing rights and translation sector. Kalem Agency from Turkey won the category for professionals working within publishing houses, while Ahmed Bedeir from Dar El Shorouk in Egypt won the independent professionals category. Special Appreciation Awards were given to Bassam Chebaro of Arab Scientific Publishers and Bill Kennedy of Avicenna Partnership Ltd.
The opening day also featured a conversation with Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer and CEO of International Foreign Language at HarperCollins Publishers. She discussed the publishing industry’s growth potential and its relati
onships with various sectors, highlighting the role of books in enhancing global understanding. Restivo-Alessi introduced the ‘Glocal’ trend, which involves local adaptations of popular genres, and expressed optimism about attracting younger readers through accessible books.
John Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Content Group, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing accessibility in publishing, particularly for smaller producers. He noted Ingram’s extensive database, which includes over 13 million units in its global print-on-demand catalogue, and highlighted significant sales for non-English content, particularly in the U.S.
The first day of the conference featured 30 interactive roundtable sessions that brought together publishers to explore key opportunities in modern publishing. Topics included advancements in digital publishing, the audiobook market, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry, as well as sustainability and environmentally friendly practices.
Workshops addressed global digital
distribution, combating piracy, improving sales on Amazon, and direct-to-consumer sales strategies. They also discussed organising events with authors and dealing with the global trade press, focusing on expanding publisher businesses in regions with large populations.
The Sharjah Publishers Conference serves as an annual event that brings together elite publishing industry experts, literary agents, and thought leaders to discuss local and global publishing challenges. It aims to explore innovative solutions that align with market developments and changing reader needs, while also serving as a platform for concluding publishing and translation rights deals and building strategic partnerships.