Tomorrow, the Sharjah International Publishers Conference kicks off, welcoming a distinguished assembly of publishing industry leaders and experts from around the globe. This year’s edition marks the 16th instalment of the conference, which runs until November 3rd. The agenda promises an engaging professional discourse with 30 key themes addressing significant transformations within the book publishing sector. Additionally, the conference will feature business meetings designed to facilitate rights exchanges and foster partnerships and collaborative opportunities among publishers and literary agents.
Opening Remarks and Key Discussions
The conference will commence with an opening address from Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority. This will be followed by a speech from His Excellency Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, who is representing Oman as the guest of honour for the Sharjah International Book Fair. The opening session will also include a dialogue with Sanyo Dillon, President of the Random House Group, part of Penguin Random House in the United States.
Focus on AI and Audiobooks
The first day of the conference is set to delve into the application of artificial intelligence in editing, proofreading, and marketing books, alongside discussions on the future of audiobooks, their production and distribution. The sessions will explore copyright and translation rights within the digital economy, the adaptation of books into cinematic and television productions, and investment in intellectual property. Furthermore, emerging opportunities for global market expansion, strategies for marketing books on platforms such as Amazon and noon, and the impact of media transformations on publishers’ and authors’ reach to readers will be examined.
Workshops in Arabic
A significant aspect of the conference will be workshops conducted in Arabic, addressing the integration of artificial intelligence in developing publishing activities, the acquisition of translation rights, and the transformation of books into intellectual properties. Key topics will also include publishing practices between Oman and the United Kingdom, digital distribution and inventory management, as well as the opportunities for Arabic books in global markets.
Networking Opportunities
The activities of the conference will continue on November 2nd and 3rd with bilateral business meetings scheduled from 10 AM to 6 PM. These sessions will bring together publishers, literary agents, and representatives from specialist institutions to explore collaboration possibilities, negotiate deals, and exchange publishing and translation rights. The programme will feature morning “Boardroom Exchange” meetings, and on Monday, a focused session will discuss enhancing the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty and advancing accessible publishing practices in the Arab region.
A Precursor to the Sharjah International Book Fair
The conference precedes the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, which begins on November 4th. It forms part of the professional initiatives organised by the Sharjah Book Authority to support the publishing industry, expand the international presence of publishers, promote translation efforts and rights exchanges, and create new opportunities for collaboration among entities engaged in the global book sector.