Malaysian Publishers See Silver Lining
FRANKFURT, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian book industry, represented by a dozen publishers and printing services providers, showed confidence by putting up a "business-as-usual" demeanour at the ongoing Frankfurt International Book Fair, the world's largest event for the book industry.
In fact, Malaysia's book industry was able to get what industry players described as "promising" business enquiries and orders at the fair.
"I am not sure if the recession has really ended as many experts are proclaiming, but I did spot quite a few 'silver linings' at this fair which has shown that consumer confidence is returning," said T.C. Hon, the chief marketing executive of The Phoenix Press Sdn Bhd of Prai, Penang, in an interview with Bernama at the Frankfurt exhibition ground.
Malaysian publishers faced fierce competition not only from low-cost suppliers in China but even more so, from India which has a long tradition in book publishing and English writing.
Malaysia's prowess is visible in publishing technical books and literature, as Hazmilah Hasan, the director of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTMM), pleasantly discovered at the fair.
"Our university also focuses on engineering subjects and we publish an entire range of engineering books. This fair provides us a good platform to launch our engineering books for the export markets," Hazmilah said in an interview.
The UTMM was also, specifically, interested in identifying publishing groups for some partnerships or tie-ups in the publishing of scientific and academic books, she said.
"This show provides us with a wonderful opportunity to meet everyone under one roof," she said, adding that Matrade's Frankfurt office had done meticulous organisation of Malaysia's participation at the show.
Hazmilah said that the economic downturn had not affected business "as much as we had feared because students will have to buy books whether they like it or not."
She said UTMM was also capable of publishing and printing books on highly technical and specialised subjects in German language.
-- BERNAMA
In fact, Malaysia's book industry was able to get what industry players described as "promising" business enquiries and orders at the fair.
"I am not sure if the recession has really ended as many experts are proclaiming, but I did spot quite a few 'silver linings' at this fair which has shown that consumer confidence is returning," said T.C. Hon, the chief marketing executive of The Phoenix Press Sdn Bhd of Prai, Penang, in an interview with Bernama at the Frankfurt exhibition ground.
Malaysian publishers faced fierce competition not only from low-cost suppliers in China but even more so, from India which has a long tradition in book publishing and English writing.
Malaysia's prowess is visible in publishing technical books and literature, as Hazmilah Hasan, the director of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTMM), pleasantly discovered at the fair.
"Our university also focuses on engineering subjects and we publish an entire range of engineering books. This fair provides us a good platform to launch our engineering books for the export markets," Hazmilah said in an interview.
The UTMM was also, specifically, interested in identifying publishing groups for some partnerships or tie-ups in the publishing of scientific and academic books, she said.
"This show provides us with a wonderful opportunity to meet everyone under one roof," she said, adding that Matrade's Frankfurt office had done meticulous organisation of Malaysia's participation at the show.
Hazmilah said that the economic downturn had not affected business "as much as we had feared because students will have to buy books whether they like it or not."
She said UTMM was also capable of publishing and printing books on highly technical and specialised subjects in German language.
-- BERNAMA
