"Publishers":box paths "Post" It has enabled us to build more sustainable publishing models

Sharjah, 1st April / WAM / A number of graduates of Masarat Sharjah Fund for Sustainability of Publishing “Inshar” – the initiative launched by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, confirmed that the training and advisory sessions provided by Masarat Fund constituted a tangible turning point in the journey of the participating publishing houses through the direct technical support they provided and clear answers to professional questions, in addition to practical experiences from international specialists that contributed to raising the efficiency of work within the houses and enhancing the ability to Make more accurate and informed decisions.

Participants in the survey explained that continuous follow-up helped build clearer financial and marketing plans, deepen understanding of the differences between the cultural role and the commercial dimension of publishing houses, and develop identity and brand, which enhanced their readiness to keep pace with changes in the publishing industry and move their business towards more sustainable and flexible models and open the horizons of expansion in regional and international markets through participation in exhibitions and building networks of professional relationships.

This came in an opinion poll conducted by the Fund affiliated with the Sharjah Book Authority to monitor the impact of the “Publish” Fund’s paths through the experiences and opinions of the participants and to highlight the impact of the training, guidance, consultations, resources and opportunities that the Fund provides on developing the capabilities of publishers in the UAE and enabling them to enhance their professional and commercial presence in the sector.

In her testimony about the practical impact of the program, Nour Arab, founder of Noor Publishing, said: The training sessions sparked in me a great enthusiasm for developing the commercial side of the house, as it helped me build a more sustainable and flexible business for the future, noting that the most prominent thing that I got out of the experience was deepening my awareness of the difference between “cultural awareness” and the “commercial side” of the house, and the importance of each of them.

Dr. Asmaa Amara stressed that the greatest value she found in the program was the technical support and answering every question, considering that this type of support saves time and gives the publisher greater clarity in decision-making.

Regarding the impact of participating in the “Publish” pavilion within the Sharjah International Book Fair, Amara explained that she had a wonderful resonance with readers, especially with the readers who had purchased the publications beginning to write reviews on social media platforms, after which messages and inquiries about the availability of the publications continued again.

Asmaa Bin Kalban, a graduate of the launch track, confirmed that one of the initiatives that had a clear impact on her was facilitating communication with specialists in international publishing to benefit from their expertise, considering that openness to international expertise shortens the learning curve and gives the publisher advanced professional tools.

Publisher Nadine Bakhas noted that her participation in “Inshar” was a source of pride and happiness for her all the time, stressing that the impact of the experience goes beyond the cognitive aspect to building a sense of partnership and belonging to a supportive professional community. She expressed her hope that this fund will continue to provide support to novice publishers and be a reason for the emergence of beautiful, deserving projects that enhance opportunities for sustainability and encourage emerging talents to enter the sector with professional and commercial awareness.

Fatima Al Hammadi said: The experience was distinguished by its qualitative value, as it was not limited to obtaining a training course only, but extended to include an integrated system of follow-up and guidance, explaining that keeping up with the financial and marketing plan and providing price quotes from printing presses, in addition to providing continuous channels of communication when needed, were pivotal factors that contributed to accelerating the pace of the development of the house. In the context of enhancing the presence in the market, she confirmed that embracing the house within the “Inshar” platform contributed significantly to consolidating confidence among customers and supporters, which was reflected positively. On opportunities for sustainability and growth.

In her testimony about the impact of the mentorship, Dalal Al-Jabri said that the mentorship period contributed to deepening her understanding of the publishing steps in a systematic and thoughtful manner, which was reflected in the quality of decisions and setting priorities, pointing out that the training sessions, consultations, and monthly follow-up were among the experiences that most influenced her work during the year.

Mamoun Abdul Rahman, a graduate of the launch track, confirmed that one of the most prominent strengths of the program is the provision of knowledge and practical experience in the field of the publishing industry directly from international experts known for their excellence and success in the world of publishing.

The participants’ visions and opinions embody the success of the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund “Inshar” in developing publishers’ tools at the professional and commercial levels and enhancing their readiness to deal with market challenges through training, consultation, follow-up, and building networks in a way that supports the sustainability of publishing houses in the UAE and prepares them to move to more advanced stages of growth and openness to expansion opportunities in regional and international markets.

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