Nearly 40 Indian exhibitors to share spotlight at LBF

Indian publishing is all to set take the centre stage at the 2017 edition of The London Book Fair, to be held from 14 to 16 March, under a special Spotlight on India series of events. The government export promotion body Capexil is working with The London Book Fair to highlight nearly 40 exhibitors from India over three pavilions. Meanwhile, there will be four pavilions dedicated to the Spotlight on India programmes at The London Book Fair, with Capexil the main stand holder.

14 Mar 2017 | By Dibyajyoti Sarma

The series coincides with the British Council’s India Year of Culture 2017 initiative, which will see an exciting festival of events take place to celebrate the country’s vibrant culture and history. A year long-programme to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence and UK cultural ties was announced by the prime ministers of both India and the UK during prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK in 2016.

One of the high-profile participants of Spotlight on India will be Ingram Content Group, which inked a deal with Repro India in 2015. Repro is Ingram’s Global Connect print provider, giving publishers from across the world the ability to make content available through local print-on-demand and distribution facility in India.

In a news report published in indiagbnews.com, David Taylor, senior vice-president of content acquisition, Ingram Content Group, said that the company is currently investing time and resources into helping India-based publishers distribute their print and digital books throughout its global network of sales channels. “International distribution can be a headache for publishers in India – availability and warehouse costs weigh heavily on their businesses. Ingram’s virtual wholesale model enables publishers to recognise the sales potential of their titles through print-on-demand availability and an efficient, reliable digital supply chain,” he said.

About the collaboration with Repro, he added that the model allows Repro to print the book locally, to price in rupees and to sell it through the major Indian retail channels.

The Spotlight on India will feature:

  • An opening ceremony with a speech by Richard Charkin, executive director, Bloomsbury Publishing, which publishes Wisden India
  • Renowned author Amit Chaudhuri in conversation in the PEN Literary Salon
  • A Symposium on Indian Writing Today, featuring discussions from a delegation of authors from the Sahitya Akademi, including Arundhati Subramaniam, Yeshe Dorji Thongchi, SL Bhyrappa, Kula Saikia, B Jayamohan
  • A session of readings by the Sahitya Akademi authors, titled My World, My Writing: Readings by Indian Authors
  • Shrabani Basu, author of Victoria & Abdul, in a discussion titled Indian Worlds: From Book to Screen
  • An exclusive opportunity to try new recipes by cookery writer and entrepreneur Anjum Anand at the Charlotte Street Hotel
  • A session on How to access the Indian Book Market – Opportunities & Challenges, hosted by Sumeet Gupta, director, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), featuring speakers from Cambridge University Press, Nielsen India and Lonely Planet
  • An especially curated Rights catalogue of Indian writing co-created by FICCI and LBF
  • Product demonstrations of Indian publishing and printing technology and expertise
  • A celebration of the 60th anniversary of the National Book Trust of India
Tags : Capexil,The London Book Fair;