Bodour spotlights publishing challenges amid rapid change
Stakeholder s fr om across the global publishing indust r y gat her ed in Jakarta to debate t he issues which will impact the future of publishing
Publishers from around the world have assembled in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the 33rd International Publishers Congress, a two-day industry-wide gathering aiming to discuss the key themes that will impact the future of publishing, and its sustainable growth.
In her role as IPA President, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi has, over the last year, encouraged publishers from all international markets to attend this important event, and many responded to her call with 666 delegates from 63 countries making the journey to the Indonesian capital.
With a carefully curated, two-day schedule designed to harness the collective power of the industry, the agenda maximised opportunities for participants to listen and learn about a variety of topics ranging from sustainability, technology, AI, and freedom to publish, to translation, educational publishing, literature for children, inclusivity and diversity.
However, in the lead-up to the congress the city of Jakarta also played host to the Indonesian Book Fair and many publishers took the opportunity to network at this vibrant event which has so much importance to the local and regional publishing economy. While atending the opening of the fair, Bodour noted the rich and joyful connection books had with the children in atendance and encouraged Indonesian publishers to maximise their opportunities to learn and grow through IPA Programmes.
Ater the opening, Sheikha Bodour was formally welcomed to a luncheon hosted by Indonesian Publishers, and laterly atended the official welcoming reception for the congress – her first opportunity to meet her international colleagues.
Sheikha Bodour thanked her hosts for their warm welcome, congratulated the various organising commitees, and officials from the Indonesian government, including Jakarta’s governor Heru Budi Hartono who made the long-awaited event possible, and voiced her excitement for the schedule ahead.
On the opening day, Sheikha Bodour delivered her keynote address and spoke candidly on the innovative and interconnected approaches that will be required to meet the challenges of working in publishing in this era of fast-paced and unpredictable change.
She explained that collaborative working methods will be particularly important in the future in order to become adaptable and agile in the face of adversity, particularly as the publishing industry is increasingly vulnerable to external pressures presented by rapid technological advancement, economic restructuring, supply chain disruption, and inflation – all of which can cause abrupt changes in market and consumer behaviour.
Following her remarks, the congress got under way and with hearty conversation and inspirational conversation driven by leaders from the publishing industry, the delegates were empowered to participate, and affect real change where they could to beter secure the future of the industry.
Ater two days of thought-provoking agenda, it fell to Sheikha Bodour to close the Congress for another session and in her closing remarks, she welcomed incoming IPA President Karine Pansa and new Vice President Gvantsa Jobava to their roles, wishing them the best of luck as they continue the incredibly challenging and rewarding work of the IPA in ensuring a sustainable future for the publishing industry.
She finally expressed her thanks to the delegates in atendance and the wider international publishing community for the honour of being their president and for their support, generosity and hospitality during her tenure.
Recently, in the presence of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the International Publishers Association, the 12th Publishers Conference that kickstarted in the lead-up to the 41st Sharjah International Book Fair, witnessed an unprecedented turnout of publishing stakeholders from the region and around the globe.
The stalwarts of the publishing industry used the vibrant plaform of the annual industry-wide event to exchange ideas and knowledge and share new insights into the exciting transformative developments that are redefining the global publishing landscape.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) at Expo Centre Sharjah, the three-day event presented a stimulating and inspiring vision of the future of publishing while also providing comprehensive insights into the current trends, challenges and opportunities in the industry.