Today, Sharjah welcomes a distinguished gathering of publishing leaders and experts from around the globe as the 16th edition of the Sharjah International Publishers Conference kicks off. Running until Tuesday, the conference features a professional agenda with 30 key topics addressing significant transformations within the publishing industry, alongside business meetings that provide publishers and literary agents with opportunities to exchange rights and explore partnerships and collaborations.
Keynote Addresses and Insights
The conference opens with a keynote address by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, followed by a speech from Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, representing Oman, the guest of honour at the Sharjah International Book Fair’s 45th edition, which starts on Wednesday.
The inaugural session includes an engaging dialogue with Sanjaya Delon, President of the Random House Group, part of Penguin Random House in the United States. The first day of the conference is dedicated to discussions focused on the utilisation of artificial intelligence in editing, proofreading, and marketing books, the future of audiobooks—including their production and distribution—along with copyright and translation rights in the digital economy, as well as the adaptation of books into cinematic and television works. Opportunities for expansion in global markets will also be a key topic, particularly the marketing of books through platforms such as Amazon and Noon, and the impact of media transformations on how publishers and authors reach readers.
Panel Sessions in Arabic
The conference features sessions in Arabic, discussing the application of artificial intelligence to enhance publishing tasks, acquiring translation rights, and converting books into intellectual properties, in addition to examining the dynamics of publishing between Oman and the United Kingdom. Topics on digital distribution, inventory management, and the potential for Arab books to succeed in global markets will also be addressed.
Networking and Collaboration Opportunities
The event will continue on Monday and Tuesday through bilateral business meetings, bringing together publishers, literary agents, and representatives from specialised institutions to explore collaboration opportunities, negotiate deals, and exchange publishing and translation rights. The programme includes morning ‘Boardroom Exchange’ meetings, and a dedicated session tomorrow focusing on enhancing the implementation of the Marrakech Treaty and developing accessible publishing practices in the Arab region.
The timing of the conference, just ahead of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair beginning on Wednesday, underscores the commitment of the Sharjah Book Authority to support the publishing industry. It aims to bolster the presence of publishers in international markets, enhance the translation movement, facilitate rights exchanges, and create new avenues for collaboration among global players in the book industry.
• Bilateral business meetings will gather publishers, literary agents, and representatives from specialised institutions to explore opportunities for collaboration, negotiate deals, and exchange publishing and translation rights.