At the 14th Sharjah Publishers Conference, publishers embraced a ‘Glocal’ approach, localizing global genres to cater to regional tastes while expediting book deliveries worldwide. Held at Expo Centre Sharjah and inaugurated by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the event brought together 1,065 publishers and 74 speakers from 108 countries.
In her opening remarks, Sheikha Bodour emphasized the need for a global publishing community that fosters cultural exchange. The conference, preceding the Sharjah International Book Fair, featured discussions on industry evolution, accessibility, and engaging new audiences.
Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer at HarperCollins, highlighted the ‘Glocal’ trend, where popular genres are adapted to resonate locally, making reading more accessible and appealing, especially to younger audiences.
Keynote speaker John Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Content Group, stressed timely delivery in today’s fast-paced market.
The event offered 30 sessions on digital publishing, AI in publishing, and anti-piracy strategies. The Sharjah Rights Connection Awards recognized excellence in publishing rights, with Kalem Agency (Turkey) and Ahmed Bedeir (Egypt) among the honorees.
