Sharjah hosts 31 expert publishing workshops

As a prelude to the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, the 15th Sharjah International Publishers Conference has convened a global assembly of publishers from around the world; and beyond the grand speeches and keynote addresses, a different kind of conversation is taking place. As a major aspect of the first day of the conference, 31 dedicated roundtable workshops have been curated and led by industry experts to facilitate concrete collaboration and the exchange of essential skills and knowledge.

Children’s Book Publishing in French Languages It is within this context that these workshops have emerged as particularly impactful, offering a focused environment for dissecting regional and niche market dynamics; and a workshop on Children’s Book Publishing in French Languages, moderated by Simon de Jocas, President and Owner of Montréal’s Éditions Les 400 Coups, exemplified this mission.

“Most of the publishers that were around the table with me were from the African continent,” de Jocas noted, highlighting a gathering of voices from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Congo, and Cameroon. “Together we talked about the complexities of a developing market structure, and our discussion quickly zeroed in on the fundamental building blocks of modern publishing: metadata, discoverability, and the power of unity,” de Jocas revealed. For this group, the most important takeaway was a shift in strategy; avoiding waiting for ideal conditions and rather embracing a philosophy of actionable first steps.

Hosting a workshop titled “Factors That Make the Printed Book Irreplaceable,” Dr. Mohammed Ayesh, Director of Al Fikr Al Jadeed Publishing House in Jordan, pointed out that the magic of print lies not only in its narrative but in the harmony of its elements; from content and design to layout and graphic presentation, even the type of paper chosen to suit the subject of the book.

Dr. Ayesh emphasised that both print and digital formats are means of transmitting knowledge; and the essential value lies in the art of presenting this information; a principle he likened to scientific research, which often reframes existing knowledge with greater clarity and precision. “The same applies to print publishing,” he stated. “The more refined the design and layout, the more a book resonates with both readers and publishers.” This theme of practical, forward-looking strategy was echoed in a roundtable focused on the digital frontier. Moderated by Mette Caserta, co-founder of Denmark’s Fioranello Publishing; the workshop tackled the realities of building a publishing house in a streaming-only economy.