Reflections from the 35th International Publishers Congress

9 July 2026

I had the privilege of attending the 35th International Publishers Congress in Kuala Lumpur, (5 – 8 July 2026), which was kindly supported by The Japan Foundation. It was a week filled with conversations and thoughtful discussions that reminded me why publishing matters far beyond the books we produce.

Jointly organised by the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA), the congress brought together publishers, booksellers, librarians, authors, government agencies, educators and reading advocates from across the world. Over three days, Kuala Lumpur became a meeting point for conversations about books — not merely as commercial products, but as cultural, educational and democratic institutions.

As someone whose work spans publishing, research and international engagement, I found myself returning to one central question throughout the congress:

What kind of publishing ecosystem do we need to build if we want reading to remain relevant in an increasingly complex world?

The answers came from many directions. Across sessions on children's publishing, literacy, government policy and freedom to publish, three broad themes consistently emerged.

First, no country can build a reading nation alone. Governments, publishers, libraries, schools, booksellers and communities all have responsibilities within the same ecosystem.

Second, publishing remains profoundly human. Books preserve language, create belonging, challenge assumptions and give voice to experiences that might otherwise disappear.

Third, while technology and society continue to evolve rapidly, publishers must adapt without losing sight of their core values: curiosity, openness, dialogue and freedom of expression.

Discovering Malaysia's publishing landscape before the congress

Before the congress officially began, I wanted to understand Malaysia's publishing landscape beyond the conference venue. On Saturday, I organised my own bookshop-hopping tour around Petaling Jaya, a city neighbouring Kuala Lumpur, visiting several independent bookshops that reflected the country's remarkable diversity.

Pelita Dhihin introduced me to Malaysia's Islamic publishing sector. At Jom Cherita in Pasar TTDI, I explored an imaginative collection of children's literature in a non-white box venue. Gerakbudaya demonstrated the important role independent publishers continue to play in encouraging critical thought and public discourse, while Monsoon Books highlighted the strength of Chinese-language publishing within Malaysia's multilingual society.

What struck me most was not simply the variety of titles available, but the consistently high quality of Malaysian publishing. The range of languages, genres and perspectives reflected the country's multicultural identity and challenged any simplistic assumptions about Southeast Asian publishing.

The following day, the pre-conference programme included visits to PPAS Pustaka Raja Tun Uda library in Selangor as well as BookXcess at Sunway University, a high-volume low-price bookshop focusing on making English titles affordable to the local audience. Both visits illustrated different approaches to cultivating reading culture.

Learning about Sunway University's not-for-profit model — where 17% of its income supports scholarships — also demonstrated how investment in education can be embedded within broader institutional values.

These visits provided valuable context for many of the conversations that followed during the congress itself.

Children's books: Creating belonging in an interconnected world

Among all the sessions, the discussion on Bridging Worlds: Cross-cultural Storytelling and Reading for the Next Generation was perhaps the most thought-provoking.

The panel brought together Elena Pasoli, Director of the Bologna Children's Book Fair; Dato' Ahmad Redza, President of Malaysia IBBY; and moderator Simon de Jocas from Canada.

Rather than focusing only on publishing trends, the discussion explored a deeper question: what responsibility do publishers have in shaping how children understand themselves and others?

Elena Pasoli argued that children's literature should help develop a sense of belonging while simultaneously expanding children's understanding of the wider world.

One observation particularly resonated with me. She noted that children naturally choose books they already know because familiarity feels comfortable. During the now-discontinued children's prize at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, many young readers consistently selected books that reflected existing preferences rather than discovering something unfamiliar.

For publishers, this presents an important challenge.

Should publishers merely follow consumer demand, or should they become cultural tastemakers who introduce readers to new voices, cultures and ideas?

Her answer was clear. Publishers have a responsibility to make new proposals rather than simply reinforcing existing tastes.

Dato' Ahmad Redza complemented this perspective by emphasising the extraordinary power of illustration. He described how illustrations had profoundly influenced him emotionally, demonstrating that pictures can communicate wonder, adventure, empathy and imagination in ways that words alone sometimes cannot. Children's books are therefore not only educational tools; they help shape tomorrow's leaders by nurturing emotional intelligence and curiosity.

Both speakers also reflected on changing childhoods.

Today's children grow up in environments vastly different from previous generations. Their motivations, influences and ways of learning have shifted. If publishers wish to remain relevant, they must first understand what children actually experience today rather than relying on assumptions inherited from the past.

The conversation naturally turned towards digital technology. Rather than framing digital media as a threat, Elena argued that "digital is not evil". The more important question is determining at what stage digital technologies genuinely benefit children's development.

Dato' Ahmad Redza similarly rejected simplistic divisions between print and digital. Technology should complement books rather than replace them. Ultimately, he argued, content remains the deciding factor. Publishers should prioritise quality and ensure that content genuinely serves children's needs regardless of format.

Publishing consultant Simon de Jocas also highlighted how digital formats have significantly improved access to books for children with learning disabilities, reminding the audience that discussions about technology must also include accessibility.

The session concluded with recommendations directed at governments and publishers alike.

Elena called upon governments to recognise reading promotion as an investment in creating better citizens for tomorrow. She also observed that publishers require both business acumen and humanity.

Dato' Ahmad Redza argued that governments need to move beyond top-down structures and engage directly with the realities of the entire book ecosystem through education reform, targeted incentives and stronger support for reading across all ages. His reminder that adults should also read children's books was particularly refreshing.

For publishers, Elena encouraged greater international dialogue and openness to other realities and cultures. Dato' Ahmad Redza urged publishers to better understand the challenges children currently face and to create stories in which young readers can genuinely recognise themselves. Simon de Jocas added another important perspective: publishers should continually question how they portray "the other" and challenge inherited assumptions about different countries and cultures.

Freedom to publish in an increasingly uncertain world

The session commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Prix Voltaire was among the congress's most emotionally powerful discussions.

Three laureates of the Prix Voltaire - Rasha Al Ameer (Lebanon), Khaled Lotfy (Egypt) and Nadia Kandrusevich (Belarus) each spoke from deeply personal experience about publishing under political pressure.

Rasha Al Ameer reflected on how the meanings of both "democracy" and "freedom" have changed over the past two decades. Speaking about Lebanon's publishing sector, she described an ecosystem struggling to survive amid continuing instability, with many publishing houses relocating elsewhere in search of conditions that allow publishing businesses simply to continue existing. She argued that international solidarity is increasingly necessary if publishing communities facing conflict are to endure.

She also offered a provocative reflection on technology, suggesting that humanity risks becoming enslaved to artificial intelligence and technological systems when they are used to facilitate warfare rather than human flourishing.

Perhaps the strongest statement of this panel came from Khaled Lotfy - that publishers cannot remain neutral.

"We need to ban indifference."

Publishing, in his view, carries ethical responsibilities that extend beyond producing books.

Nadia Kandrusevich reminded the audience that publishing also preserves language itself — a powerful observation from someone whose own work has been shaped by political repression.

When asked for advice to young publishers, the panel offered remarkably practical guidance.

• Do not wait for the perfect moment. Act now.

• Build bridges and build communities.

• Be the voice of those who cannot speak.

• Never underestimate the power not only of books, but of words themselves.

Their advice suggested that publishing remains fundamentally an act of hope.

At the same time, this session also prompted my greatest disappointment during the congress.

Given the scale of ongoing humanitarian crises across the world, I had expected greater discussion of Palestine and the wider regional conflicts that continue to shape publishing, culture and freedom of expression. I was also uncomfortable when the moderator interrupted Rasha Al Ameer's reflections on war and suffering in Lebanon, describing the topic as "hard to listen to" before redirecting the conversation. I felt that moments such as these deserved space rather than avoidance.

Malaysia's model for building a reading nation

One of the congress's most practical presentations came from Adibah Omar, CEO of Perbadanan Kota Buku. Her presentation demonstrated how Malaysia has attempted to build an entire reading ecosystem rather than isolated reading programmes.

Her central argument was simple yet powerful:

No reading nation can be built by government alone, nor by industry alone. Intentional alignment between all stakeholders is essential.

Rather than beginning with markets, she argued that countries should first create readers:

(1) By challenging participants to consider knowledge equity by asking who remains excluded from existing systems

(2) By emphasising the importance of listening carefully to stakeholders before designing solutions, rather than assuming policymakers already understand the problems

Reader choice also emerged as an important principle. Allowing people to choose their own books creates stronger engagement than prescribing what should be read.

Accessibility featured prominently throughout the presentation. As access increases, participation also increases. Her examples included Malaysia's M.A.T.A. Braille reading technology and wider efforts to ensure readers with disabilities are included within national reading strategies.

Perhaps the most important observation concerned sustainability.

Building infrastructure is only the beginning. Maintaining it over decades is the greater challenge.

Adibah's presentation illustrated how sustained government-industry collaboration can create long-

term cultural impact rather than isolated projects.

Literacy as a lifelong investment

In another memorable session, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi reflected on publishers' role in addressing global literacy.

Her message remained refreshingly centred on people rather than statistics.

Stories change lives.

Ideas matter.

Books provide safety, refuge and hope for children.

She suggested that sustainable reading cultures depend upon three interconnected elements:

(1) Access to books

(2) Cultural relevance that allows readers to see themselves reflected in stories

(3) Continuity throughout childhood so that reading becomes a lifelong habit rather than a temporary activity

She also observed that successful partnerships depend not merely on collaboration, but on genuine clarity of purpose.

Strengthening regional publishing through the Asian Rights Fair

Alongside the congress itself, the continuation of the Asian Rights Fair, organised by Perbadanan Kota Buku, demonstrated the growing importance of regional rights trading.

Country presentations from across Southeast Asia, together with structured B2B matching sessions, created valuable opportunities for publishers to explore future collaborations.

For me, the ARF provided opportunities to meet senior figures from major publishing companies whom I would rarely encounter at smaller industry events.

As Southeast Asian publishing continues to develop internationally, initiatives such as these will

become increasingly important.

Celebrating Malaysia

The congress concluded with a gala dinner celebrating Malaysia's multicultural heritage through Chinese cuisine, spoken poetry performances by Malaysia's National Laureates and the formal handover to Sharjah, host of the 36th International Publishers Congress in 2028.

Congratulations are due to Malaysia for successfully delivering such an ambitious international event. After witnessing two years of international promotion leading up to the congress, it was inspiring to see government agencies, publishers and book organisations working together towards a genuinely shared purpose. Malaysia demonstrated what coordinated investment in publishing can achieve.

Final reflections

No international event is perfect.

I would have welcomed a larger contingent from my home country Singapore, greater participation by emerging publishing professionals and a programme that embraced even broader perspectives on the rapidly changing publishing landscape.

I was also disappointed to repeatedly witness one prominent Western publishing figure publicly belittling other speakers and engaging in video calls during presentations. International publishing depends upon mutual respect across cultures, institutions and generations. Professional achievements should always be accompanied by humility.

Before returning home, I visited the Ilham Gallery's Robert Rauschenberg and Asia exhibition, explored the Duke Museum of Picture Book Art at the creative community mall GMBB, and concluded my journey with a visit to Kinokuniya bookstore at Suria KLCC.

These visits felt like an appropriate ending to a week dedicated to books, art and cultural exchange.

The congress reaffirmed my belief that publishing is far more than an industry.

It is an ecosystem.

An ecosystem that requires collaboration rather than competition, courage rather than indifference, and long-term investment rather than short-term thinking.

Above all, it reminded me that books continue to matter because people continue to matter. As long as publishers remain committed to helping people understand themselves and each other, publishing will continue to play an indispensable role in shaping more informed, empathetic and connected societies.