10th Istanbul Publishing Fellowship Program brings together publishers from 75 countries

ISTANBUL

The 10th international Istanbul Publishing Fellowship Program, supported by Anadolu Agency (AA), began in Istanbul.

Organized by the Turkish Publishers Association (TBYM) with support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the event gathers national and international publishers.

The event, aimed at boosting international copyright exchanges, features publishers from 75 countries this year.

Mehmet Burhan Genc, chairman of TBYM, told Anadolu that the program is a key marketing event uniting the publishing industry.

Genc said the event provides a professional platform for buying and selling book copyrights.

"This year, 250 foreign and 120 local publishers are participating. Over three days, publishers will have 30-minute B2B meetings, giving them the opportunity to present their works to other publishers," he said.

He said the program's main goal is to promote local works globally.

"We want our local works to find markets worldwide and be translated into other languages. Türkiye is becoming a cultural crossroads, and this event has become a hub for different languages. We aim to make the Istanbul Publishing Fellowship one of the top events globally," he said.

Genc also noted the growing interest in the event, with nearly 1,000 applications, 25% from first-time publishers. He said local publishers are now selling their works globally, reflecting the program's increasing international success.

‘Istanbul is at the center of the publishing route’

Muhammed Agirakca, a member of the Istanbul Publishing Fellowship Coordination Board, said the event unites publishers who can't meet at international fairs.

"This year, there's strong interest from countries with close ties to Turkish culture. While the West was once the focus of copyright acquisition, the East is now exploring new centers and routes. We believe Istanbul is at the center of the publishing route,” he said.

Agirakca said the program will include various events, such as a seminar on China’s growing market and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on publishing, and a tour to help publishers better connect with Istanbul’s cultural heritage.

This year’s program features the first "Media Match" event, allowing digital platform representatives to meet with publishers.

This year’s focus country, China, will be highlighted through seminars on industry trends and issues.