Ahead of the 2nd African Publishers Conference, themed ‘Enhancing the Capacity of African Publishing Industry for the Promotion of Literacy’, scheduled for June 3-4 in Harare, Zimbabwe, the organizers have released a press brief. The conference aims to strengthen the African publishing industry and promote literacy across the continent.

Press Release

THE 2ND AFRICAN PUBLISHERS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ZIMBABWE

The 2nd edition of the African Publishers Conference will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 3rd to 4th June, 2024. The Conference will be hosted by the African Regional Intellectual
Property Organization (ARIPO) and Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association (ZBPA) at
ARIPO Headquarters, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The theme for this important regional meeting is
“Enhancing the Capacity of African Publishing Industry for the Promotion of Literacy”.
Zimbabwe is the founding country of African Publishers Network (APNET) and it reminisces
the history of APNET. In February 1992, a think-tank of African publishers from nine African
countries with proven track-records assembled in Harare and after a purposeful brainstorming
on the need for networking to promote trade, training, advocacy and information sharing;
APNET was formed.

Participants of African Publishers Conference in Cote d’Ivoire with the Special Guest of
Honour, Hon. Françoise Remarck (Minister of Culture and Francophonie of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire)
The African Publishers Conference will involve presentations, workshops, panel discussion and APNET General/Business meeting all to help build and expand the capacity of the publishing industry in Africa. Over 70 participants from about 30 countries are expected to congregate at the Conference. It is organised by African Publishers Network (APNET) with the support of the following partners/co-organisers:
• World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
• International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
• African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)
• Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association (ZBPA)
• International Publishers Association (IPA)
Officials and speakers from the above partnering organisations will participate and also
facilitate various sessions of the programme.

The Conference will also involve the following
high-profile dignitaries: the Guest of Honour, Minister for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs – Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi. Special Guests will be Hon. Kirsty L. Coventry, Minister for Sports Recreation Arts and Culture, Hon. N M. Ndlovu, Minister for Industry and Commerce;
and Mr Willie Mushayi, the Chief Registrar of The Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Justice.
The African Publishers Conference and post collaborative activities seek to achieve the following objectives to drive progress in the publishing industry in Africa:
i. To build the capacity of publishers’ associations, African publishers and the publishing
industry at the national and regional level.
ii. To strengthen copyright and existing Reprographic Rights Organizations (RROs) and establish new ones in Africa.
iii. To strengthen national and regional advocacy for the promotion of national book and reading policies, publishing and distribution of books in African languages.
iv. To advance the knowledge and understanding of African and International stakeholder organizations in the African publishing industry.
v. To sensitize and promote the execution of pilot projects and projects which include research and book publishing innovations for the growth of the industry.
vi. To update the conference action plan for implementation to promote and improve the publishing industry in Africa.
vii. To empower the participants to lead the implementation of the knowledge acquired and to share materials and knowledge with the publishers in their respective countries.

It is important to state that the 1st edition of the Conference dubbed APNET-WIPO African Publishers Conference was hosted by Côte d’Ivoire Publishers Association (ASSEDI) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 27th – 28th June, 2023 under the patronage of the Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Francoise Remarck, Minister of Culture and Francophonie of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

It was held under the theme: Reinforcing African Publishing Industry at the
Forefront of the African Economy. The African Publishers Conference was generously sponsored by WIPO and IFRRO and involved 43 participants from 16 countries.

This year’s Conference promises to be bigger as it expands its objectives, scope and relevance for the African publishing industry. The theme for the Conference is also congruous with the current situation of the publishing industry in Africa. The African Publishing Industry has a direct
bearing on the promotion of literacy among Africans. Empowering publishers and other professionals of the industry to catch up and have an edge over the changing trends which include artificial
intelligence (AI); protecting copyrighted works and intellectual property rights; strengthening and sustaining Reprographic Rights Organisations (RROs); and data collection in Africa, among others, are all designed to build and enhance the capacity of the publishing industry.
The Conference will not only educate the participants on the rich topics lined up in the programme but will also provide the opportunity for networking, exploring business opportunities and strengthening individuals and organisations. Individuals and organisations in remote areas can join the Conference virtually.
For questions or clarification, contact:
Ms Maureen Fondo (ARIPO Office) – mfondo@aripo.org
Mr. Masimba Tinashe Madondo (Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association) –
masimbam@cps.co.zw
Mr. Ernest Oppong (APNET Secretariat) – info.africanpublishers@gmail.com