Sharjah International Booksellers Conference 2025 Opens With Over 661 Participants From 94 Countries

The Sharjah International Booksellers Conference is set to begin at the Sharjah Expo Centre. This fourth edition will gather over 661 booksellers, publishers, and distributors from 94 countries. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the event aims to exchange expertise, explore industry trends, and expand professional networks. Participants will discuss challenges and opportunities in publishing and distribution, focusing on innovation and sustainable growth.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, will deliver the opening keynote address. She plans to reflect on past achievements of the conference and emphasise international collaboration's importance in shaping publishing's future. Her speech will also highlight distributors' crucial role in making knowledge accessible worldwide.

The first day features a panel discussion with Renato Salvetti, CEO of Messaggerie Libri, Italy, alongside Porter Anderson from Publishing Perspectives. Following this, Serban Radu and Nicoleta Jordan from Romania’s Carturesti bookshop chain will share insights. On the second day, Michael Busch from Germany’s Thalia bookstores will discuss Europe's evolving publishing landscape.

PublisHer will host panels and workshops during the event to support female publishers. These sessions aim to address pressing issues in the sector while female leaders share their journeys to guide future professionals. The focus is on promoting gender equality within the industry.

Ajay Mago from OM Books in India will lead a session on "AI for Booksellers: Enhancing Discovery, Sales & Operations." This session explores how artificial intelligence can aid bookselling businesses. Kristine Pikenena will present strategies for collaborating with social media influencers through "Working with Instagram and Book Bloggers."

Fernando Pascal's session on "Data Management for Booksellers" will cover best practices for handling data effectively. Steve Jones will discuss diversifying bookshop offerings to broaden product ranges. Rome Quezada's session on coffee table books highlights their potential to engage readers.

Cultural Impact and Community Engagement

Maddalena Fossombroni will speak about "The Literary Festival Effect," focusing on literary events' cultural impact. Rodrigo Larrubia from Libreria Luces in Spain will conduct a workshop on developing book clubs to foster community engagement. Elena Martínez Blanco from Librería Serendipias in Spain will present initiatives encouraging youth readership.

Harriet Vocking from Supadu in the UK offers advice on building sustainable e-commerce businesses for bookshops. Jeremy Cammy from Rock the Bus Productions in Canada shares strategies for running successful bookstore events, providing proven approaches for planning and execution.

This conference provides a strategic environment for forging partnerships and exploring avenues for innovation within the industry. Attendees are encouraged to participate actively in discussions that shape the sector's future while expanding their professional networks.

With inputs from WAM