G20 countries could leverage cooperation in pushing publishing businesses through various collaborative models like rights trading, translation, adaptation and co-publishing. This was highlighted by Neeraj Jain, Chair, FICCI Publishing Committee, and Managing Director, Scholastic India while talking at the ‘CEO Speak (A Forum For Publishing) – Over Chairman’s Breakfast’, organized jointly by FICCI and the National Book Trust (NBT) on Feb 26.
In the same event a panel on the theme, ‘Opportunities in Book Trade among G20 Countries’ also recommended creation of a Working Group on publishing among G20 countries for formal and institutional mechanism for book trade. Kumar Vikram, Senior Editor and Project Head (Integrated Project Management Cell), National Book Trust, India, Ministry of Education, Government of India said that FICCI and NBT would jointly create a forum for continuous engagement among various stakeholders of publishing industry of G20 nations to enhance cooperation and trade.
Highlighting the opportunities for Indo-French cooperation (France is the Guest of Honour Country for the New Delhi World Book Fair 2023) in book trade, Vincent Montagne, Chair, Syndicat National de l’Edition (French Publishers Association) said that translation is the key to the collaboration between the two nations. “We need to build bridges between languages and cultures,” he added.
Earlier in his inaugural address Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India talked about setting up digital libraries in the country which would ensure easy access to content. Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, mentioned that the ‘National Education Policy’ emphasizes on multilingualism, and it would create more opportunities for publishing industry.
