Sheikha Bodour to deliver opening speech at Sharjah global booksellers' meet on Monday
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority, will deliver the opening keynote address at the fourth edition of the Sharjah International Booksellers Conference, which will commence on Monday at the Sharjah Expo Centre.
She will reflect on the conference's achievements to date, highlight the importance of international collaboration in shaping the future of publishing, and reaffirm the vital role of distributors in making knowledge accessible across the globe.
The event brings together over 661 booksellers, publishers and distributors from 94 countries to exchange expertise, explore industry trends, and expand their professional networks.
Participants will thrash out the challenges facing publishers and booksellers.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), this year's conference reflects significant growth in both scale and thematic breadth.
Attendees will delve into pressing issues facing the publishing and distribution industries, assess emerging global challenges and opportunities, and participate in discussions to shape the sector's future. The programme also provides a strategic environment for forging partnerships and exploring avenues for innovation and sustainable growth.
Insights from leading European experts
The opening day will include a panel discussion with Renato Salvetti, CEO, Messaggerie Libri, Italy, with Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives. It will be followed by a session featuring Serban Radu and Nicoleta Jordan, co-founders of Romania's leading bookshop chain, Carturesti.
On the second day, the programme will open with a keynote address from Michael Busch, founder of Germany's Thalia bookstores, who will explore the evolution of Europe's publishing and distribution landscape, shifting consumer behaviour, and emerging business opportunities.
PublisHer brings women's voices to the forefront of publishing
During the event, PublisHer, a platform for promoting and assisting female publishers, will host panel discussions and expert-led workshops focused on pressing issues in the sector. Female leaders will also share their professional journeys and guide the next generation of industry professionals.
Ajay Mago, OM Books, India, will lead the "AI for Booksellers: Enhancing Discovery, Sales & Operations" session, exploring how artificial intelligence can support key aspects of the bookselling business.
Kristine Pikenena will present "Working with Instagram and Book Bloggers," offering guidance on effective collaboration with social media influencers in the book space.
Fernando Pascal will delve into "Data Management for Booksellers," focusing on best practices for handling and leveraging data.
Steve Jones will deliver a session titled "Diversifying Your Bookshop's Offerings," examining strategies to broaden a bookshop's product range.
Rome Quezada will lead the session "What Are 'Coffee Table' Books and How Can They Build a New Community?" highlighting their potential in engaging readers.
Maddalena Fossombroni will speak on "The Literary Festival Effect: Catalyzing Culture and Community," addressing the wider cultural impact of literary events.
Rodrigo Larrubia, Libreria Luces, Spain, will conduct the "Workshop on Developing and Managing Book Clubs," offering practical insights for fostering community engagement.
Elena Martínez Blanco, Librería Serendipias, Spain, will present "How Bookstores Can Encourage Reading Among Children and Teens," focusing on youth readership initiatives.
Harriet Vocking, Supadu, UK, will offer expert advice in "Building an E-Commerce Business: How to Add Value to Your Bookshop and Be Sustainable at the Same Time," while Jeremy Cammy, Rock the Bus Productions, Canada, will lead "Running Successful Events in Bookstores," sharing proven approaches for event planning and execution.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TECHx
10 hours ago
- TECHx
Digital Displays on the Rise: META Leads LFD Shift
Home » Tech Market Insights » Digital Displays on the Rise: META Leads LFD Shift Digital Displays surge in META as demand for interactive, high-brightness, and DV-LED screens grows, contrasting Europe's slowdown in the LFD market. This research article, based on the latest market insights provided by CONTEXT, explores the evolving landscape of the Large Format Display (LFD) market in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa (META). As global economic pressures and technology shifts redefine visual display demand, the META region demonstrates resilience and emerging opportunities in contrast to a notable slowdown in the European market. CONTEXT's data highlights growth drivers such as increasing demand for interactive and high-brightness LFDs, investments in smart cities, and the expansion of Direct View LED applications. This paper contextualizes these regional trends and examines broader factors like semiconductor tariffs and rapid technological evolution shaping the industry's trajectory. The LFD market across the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa (META) is currently undergoing a dynamic period, characterised by both challenges and opportunities. While the META region demonstrates specific areas of growth, the European market provides a contrasting perspective, with a noted slowdown in April. LFD market shows promise in META One area of particular interest in the META region is the Large Format Display (LFD) sector. The LFD industry has experienced some relief regarding US tariffs, although concerns remain about potential future tariffs on semiconductors. Notably, LFD activity picked up in March, moving closer to the performance levels seen in 2024. This resurgence is driven by several key factors: Interactive LFD demand: There's a notable increase in demand for interactive LFDs, fuelled by adoption in educational institutions, boardroom automation, and even religious tourism. This indicates a diversification of LFD applications beyond traditional commercial settings. High brightness LFDs: The need for high brightness LFDs is also on the rise, spurred by advertising requirements and the development of smart cities. As urban centres in the META region invest in digital infrastructure, the demand for displays that can perform in various lighting conditions is expected to grow. Direct view LED momentum: The Direct View LED segment continues to demonstrate solid momentum, albeit with slightly slower growth compared to 2024. Opportunities in entertainment venues and the burgeoning esports scene are contributing to this growth. Türkiye's surging LFD market A standout within the META region is Türkiye, where the LFD market is experiencing a surge in demand for both interactive displays and signage. This highlights the country's investment in digital display technologies across various sectors. European market: April slowdown and key trends While the META region sees growth in LFDs, the European LFD market experienced a slowdown in performance in April. The main factors shaping the market currently are: Continued decline of ASPs : Average Selling Prices (ASPs) for LFDs have seen some significant price drops since the beginning of the year, and this is mainly affecting the DV-LED and Signage markets. : Average Selling Prices (ASPs) for LFDs have seen some significant price drops since the beginning of the year, and this is mainly affecting the DV-LED and Signage markets. Interactive Woes: The end of EDU investment programmes in different countries is having a large impact on the Interactive Board category of LFDs. These displays, which are now a staple for classrooms in many schools and higher education establishments, have seen a -31% decline in April as a result. The end of EDU investment programmes in different countries is having a large impact on the Interactive Board category of LFDs. These displays, which are now a staple for classrooms in many schools and higher education establishments, have seen a -31% decline in April as a result. Tough Comparables: In April 2024 the LFD market grew by 33% YoY. Demand received a boost from preparations for the Olympic games in France and the UEFA Euro in Germany. However, this implies that achieving comparable growth in the second quarter of this year will present a considerable challenge. Broader trends and considerations Several overarching factors influence both the META and European LFD markets: Semiconductor tariffs: The potential impact of US tariffs on semiconductors remains a key concern. Since LFDs rely heavily on these components, any price fluctuations in semiconductors could ripple through the entire supply chain and affect pricing in both regions. Technological evolution: The rapid pace of technological change continues to shape the LFD market. Innovations such as smart glasses have the potential to disrupt traditional display technologies in the long run. Looking ahead The LFD market presents a complex picture, with growth areas in the META region's LFD sector contrasting with a recent slowdown in the European desktop LFD market. Global economic factors, technological advancements, and supply chain considerations will continue to play crucial roles in shaping the industry's trajectory..
Gulf Today
14 hours ago
- Gulf Today
SBA concludes its participation in Readmagine 2025 in Madrid
The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has concluded its participation in Readmagine 2025, one of Europe's leading platforms for innovation in the publishing sector. Held in Madrid and organised by the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation (FGSR), the event marked Sharjah's debut as the first Arab city to participate, reaffirming the emirate's status as a regional and global centre for publishing development and international collaboration. During the international event, SBA participated in a session titled 'Empowering Emirati publishers through the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur),' featuring Iman Ben Chaibah, Director of strategic initiatives and global markets at SBA, alongside Shatha Nasser, founder of Kairos Publishing House and one of the winners in the fund's inaugural launch track. In the session, Iman Ben Chaibah reaffirmed Sharjah's commitment to shaping a sustainable and resilient future for the publishing industry in the UAE and the wider region. She introduced Onshur as a strategic initiative designed to empower publishers through three integrated tracks: launch, scale and disrupt. 'The fund was established to address a fundamental challenge: how to ensure the continued strength and growth of the publishing sector over the long term. It responds to this need by offering a well-rounded framework of training, financial backing and professional mentorship, equipping publishers to tackle industry demands and grow their businesses with assurance and skill.' She went on to credit the vision of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, for shaping the fund's comprehensive framework. 'Onshur offers a fully integrated support system that combines professional guidance, targeted training and access to a network of industry partners and specialists. It also provides practical resources such as trade licences, co-working spaces, affordable printing services and translation support. We were encouraged by the strong international interest in the Onshur model during the event, and we have already scheduled several follow-up meetings to explore potential areas of collaboration.' WAM
Tahawul Tech
18 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
Threads to test direct messaging feature
Meta's Threads app announced it would begin rolling out direct messaging, features long offered by rivals, in a bid to attract more users. Users in select markets, including Hong Kong and Thailand, will get a dedicated inbox for direct messages on the app as part of the test, eliminating the need to switch to Instagram's messaging platform. Meta said messages on Threads will not be encrypted for now. Threads and Instagram have long been intertwined as part of Meta's plans to leverage the image and video sharing platform's massive user base to better compete with services such as X, TikTok and Reddit for digital ad dollars. Meta announced the expansion of advertising on Threads to all eligible advertisers globally in April. However, the company has said it did not expect Threads to be a 'meaningful driver' of revenue growth in 2025. Research firm Emarketer expects Threads' U.S. monthly active users will grow 17.5% to 60.5 million by next year, surpassing X, whose user base is expected to decline 14.4% to 50 million. U.S. trade restrictions and the rise of AI‑powered ad targeting have pushed social media platforms to enhance their offerings, adding distinctive features and sharper user experiences to stand out in a saturated market. Source: Reuters Image Credit: Stock Image
