Indian Publishers Conference 2024 to focus on digital potential

FIP is organizing its 2nd Edition of The Indian Publishers Conference 2024 on August 2, 2024 at The Lalit, New Delhi, under the theme “Unleashing The Digital Potential.” Here, Sahil Gupta, Conference Director and Co-Chair E-commerce & Digital, The Federation of Indian Publishers shares more about this conference. Excerpts.

AABP: Brief us about the status of Indian publishing industry?

Sahil: The Indian publishing industry is a pillar of our nation’s economy, not only in terms of the sheer numbers, with an estimated size of INR 800 Billion, but also by providing employment opportunities to millions directly and indirectly. It provides a basis for the future generations to become industry leaders. What is needed is for the publishing sector to be recognised by the ministry as an industry. It has to be the cornerstone in making India a knowledge economy.

AABP: What are the major highlights of the 2nd FIP conference?

Sahil: The 2nd Edition of The Indian Publishers’ Conference 2024, which The Federation of Indian Publishers is organising on the 2nd of August at The Lalit in New Delhi, shall exclusively focus on Navigating the Digital Landscape of the Indian Publishing Industry, emphasising generating revenue strategies. Eminent Speakers, dignitaries from the ministry, visionary panellists and intriguing discussions on industry-relevant topics are some things I can assure the delegates can hope for.

AABP: Unleashing the Digital Potential – what would be the main focus areas under this theme?

Sahil: The conference intends to provide practical advice and discussing actionable strategies on the digital front in the publishing trade. We are not just talking about focusing on E-commerce, which, needless to say, is growing rapidly. Still, things like Ebooks and e-learning, audiobooks, and Artificial Intelligence are important trends that we intend to focus on during this conference. As the theme suggests, the power of Digital Potential needs to be unleashed, and the idea is to help publishers formulate strategies that can help them monetise their content in the digital arena be it through OTT platforms, tutorials, with the help of AI tools or otherwise.

AABP: Who are the speakers at the conference?

Sahil: We are expecting speakers from all streams, ranging from Publishers to Technology Enthusiasts, visionaries in Edtech, and Experts in AI. The plan is to have people who have been in complex situations, have overcome them, and have achieved success. We are delighted to confirm the participation of Founders, Achievers, and Experts who can critique ground realities and advise on how to resolve challenges and explore new digital avenues & tools across the Publishing Ecosystem.

AABP: How many publishers are you expecting to attend?

Sahil: The first edition of the Indian Publishers Conference, held during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the FIP last year, had close to 150 people. This time, registrations are already at full pace, and we feel we would be forced to limit participants to 150 on a first-come, first-served basis. By attending, you’ll have the opportunity to network with top publishers nationwide, gain insights from industry experts, and learn about the latest trends and strategies in the digital publishing landscape.

AABP: What about international participation, and from which countries?

Sahil: The International Publishers Association (IPA), a key partner of FIP, has always supported us in all our initiatives and this year will be no different. We have already written to our counterpart publishers’ associations worldwide, inviting them to participate and share their insights. Interested delegates can pay a nominal fee and register for the conference online.

AABP: What would be the key takeaways from this conference?

Sahil: Exploring Alternate Revenue Streams, understanding the HOW’s and WHY’s of Artificial Intelligence, and the relevance of copyrights and licenses in today’s digital age, especially in a nation with the highest order of linguistic diversity, are some points that come to mind. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a prestigious & exclusive national conference that promotes and fosters a healthy culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration for addressing common industry concerns. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, gain insights into the latest trends and strategies, and network with top publishers and experts in the field.