Training Programme For Arab And African Publishers 2025 Launches With 161 Participants In Sharjah

The Training Programme for Arab and African Publishers 2025 commenced on Saturday, gathering 161 publishers, including 75 from Africa. Authors and publishing experts worldwide also participated. The programme focused on key industry priorities such as managing audio content, developing audiobook strategies, expanding family-run businesses into international brands, and exploring new digital distribution models.

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) in collaboration with New York University (NYU) at Expo Centre Sharjah, the event aimed to foster innovation in publishing. This initiative supports Arab and African publishers in broadening their global presence. Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, emphasised that this programme is part of a larger effort led by H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA.

Markus Dohle, CEO Emeritus of Penguin Random House, delivered a keynote titled "Global Book Industry & Publishing in Emerging Markets." He highlighted that 86 percent of the world’s population resides in emerging economies with higher GDP growth. This presents significant opportunities for publishing. Dohle pointed out booming markets like India and Southeast Asia and projected Africa's market to reach US$18.5 billion by 2050.

Amanda D’Acierno, Global President of Penguin Random House Audio, led a session called "Bracing Audio: Effective Strategies for Publishers Big and Small." She encouraged publishers to leverage the "borderless" nature of audiobooks. With only about 12,000 Arabic titles available for 400 million speakers, she sees a vast opportunity in the Arab world.

Brooke O’Donnell from Independent Publishers Group (IPG) shared insights on global expansion for publishers. She stressed the importance of selecting suitable distribution partners to overcome challenges. O’Donnell advised starting with clear goals and highlighted print-on-demand as a low-risk method to explore new markets sustainably.

Andrea Chambers from NYU SPS Centre for Publishing stated: "For this year, we are focused on sharing best practices and strategies, hearing your challenges, and exploring how you can achieve growth, expand your reach, and find new audiences." The aim is to help participants learn from leading executives in publishing.

Digital Market Expansion

Mariana Féged from Bookwire MENA discussed her company's growth as a digital distributor with over 1 million ebooks and more than 200,000 audiobooks across seven markets. She noted that audio generates 71 percent of digital revenue. Féged urged publishers to make their catalogues available across all business models to maximise revenue opportunities.

The programme underscored the importance of learning from international leaders and fostering cross-border collaboration to enhance regional publishing standards. Amanda D’Acierno added that ensuring high-quality standards in localised production is crucial for success in emerging markets.

This comprehensive initiative reflects a commitment to advancing the publishing industry by equipping professionals with knowledge and strategies necessary for global expansion.

With inputs from WAM