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Indonesia will be the Market Focus for The London Book Fair 2019.
The London Book Fair Market Focus programme, which is run in partnership with the British Council, will include cultural events celebrating Indonesian authors and books, and a professional programme designed to enable and enhance business opportunities.
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and the largest producer of books in Southeast Asia, as well as a large consumer of foreign titles. Over the last few years there has been a "substantial growth" in the sale of rights of Indonesian books to territories around the world, ranging from fashion and design to Islam and politics, said a spokesperson for LBF.
Through publishing incentives and an extensive cultural programme including its LBF Market Focus partnership, Indonesia through The Indonesian Creative Economy Agency and the Ministry of Education and Culture is making a concerted effort to introduce the country’s “17,000 Islands of Imagination” to the international public and, especially, to the UK.
Himar Farid, the director general of culture at the Indonesian ministry of education and culture, said: "A book fair isn’t just about buying and selling rights to books; it represents an exchange of ideas and cultural values. As Market Focus Country at The London Book Fair 2019, Indonesia will, in partnership with the British Council, spread the word of Indonesia’s font of creativity through Great Britain and beyond."
Ricky Joseph Pesik, vice chairman at The Indonesian Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF), said: “Indonesia’s creative economy industry has experienced exponential growth in the past three years. Indonesia's creative sector has employed 15.9 million people with 7.3 percent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) or equivalent to $67bn and export contribution of $20bn.
"As the Country Market Focus in The London Book Fair 2019, we [Bekraf] would like to take this opportunity to bring Indonesia’s publishing sector and related sectors into the next level by featuring the finest authors, publishers and Indonesia’s rich cultural and literary heritage with hope, it will provide a huge opportunity to Indonesia’s creative sector, specifically in the publishing sector."
Jacks Thomas, director of The London Book Fair, commented: “Vibrant, diverse, fascinating and fast-moving, we are lucky to have the opportunity of finding out more about Indonesia – the country, its people and its publishing. I know they will make great Market Focus partners next year and look forward to putting Indonesia at the forefront of LBF’s activities over the next few years.”
At The London Book Fair 2018, Indonesia (stand 5D169) will be hosting a series of events and take part in a handover event at the end of LBF from the Baltic Countries, who are this year’s Market Focus.