Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission held a virtual meeting recently to discuss the challenges in printing, looking at some of the best opportunities and putting forward proposals as solutions.
The meeting aimed at enhancing the printing industry with the introduction of modern technologies, searching for the best investment opportunities to become globally competitive, solving the challenges of emerging and medium-sized publishing houses, and reviewing some of the most successful international models.
The meeting, attended by a number of Saudi printers, publishing houses, and industry stakeholders, discussed several issues including the recent developments of the printing industry in the Kingdom, the achievement of high standards of excellence in printing that is promoting healthy competition among local printing presses with special emphasis on supporting children’s and young adult literature, and the importance of digital printing as a parallel to traditional printing and its role in boosting print on demand (POD) to reduce overprinting.
Participants also discussed the importance of forging partnerships and long-term relationships between publishing houses and printing presses, to understand the financial needs of the industry and obtain easy payments, the challenges facing publishers in Saudi Arabia with local prices being more than fourfold as compared to some Arab countries, alternatives to printing paper or its availability in high quantities, and supply chain disruptions.
The meeting further touched on the introduction of tax exemptions on raw materials for printing as well as state subsidies provided by several Arab nations to reduce costs and support their printing and publishing industries.
Through a series of periodic meetings, the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission is keen to promote a participatory approach by effectively reaching out to all stakeholders, introduce its initiatives and programmes, discuss challenges and provide timely solutions, and to build bridges of cultural communication and exchange.
