Conference brings into focus digital transformations in publishing sector

AMMAN — Deputising for Her Majesty Queen Rania, Minister of Culture and Youth Mohammad Abu Rumman on Monday opened the third regional conference for the International Publishers Association.

The conference was organised in cooperation with the Union of Jordanian Publishers, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The two-day event addresses digital transformations and the challenges facing the sale and distribution of books, as well as the publishing sector’s role in meeting humanitarian needs and empowering refugees.

The conference also deals with ways of delivering books to areas of conflict, the role of technology in rectifying illiteracy, developing a culture of readers, preparing a generation of creative artists and publishers and delivering Arabic content to the international stage.

“The holding of this conference came at the right time in light of the great struggles facing the Arab world’s publishing industry, which requires a roadmap to rescue it as it is one of the key indicators of knowledge and culture among societies and nations,” Abu Rumman said.

The minister cited the spread of piracy, the lack of respect for intellectual property, the “information revolution” and cyberspace as challenges to publishing, noting that the region’s difficult economic situation has shifted focus to meeting financial needs and led to a loss of interest in promoting a culture of reading at schools and universities.

Abu Rumman called for strategies, policies and “clear criteria” for developing the publishing industry and enhancing its contribution to the economic and investment spheres, according to Petra.

For his part, President of the Union of Jordanian Publishers Fathi Al Biss said sustainable development cannot play an effective role without cultural development built on knowledge through reading.