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Kobo has officially launched in India through partnerships with bookstores Crossword, W H Smith and electronics store Croma.
Kobo’s e-bookstore has also launched, featuring 95% of top-selling Indian authors including Jhumpa Lahiri, Ramachandra Guha and Sachin Garg alongside international bestsellers such as Dan Brown, John Grisham and Lee Child.
Kobo’s general manager Wayne White said he believed India was in the early stages of a 25-year transformation from print to digital reading.
He said: “As e-commerce continues to expand and demand for digital content continues to grow, we are thrilled to be launching in India and look forward to introducing passionate readers to our world-class digital reading platform. India is in the early stages of what we believe is a 25-year transformation from print to digital reading. In partnership with some of the leading booksellers and retailers in the country, Kobo is poised to lead this transformation, by delivering a fully localised experience designed to meet the increased demand for digital content in India.”
Michael Tamblyn, chief content officer for Kobo, said: “Traditionally known as the land of storytelling, it was important to us that we enter the market with an offering that met the expectations of a discerning Indian audience who are passionate about the books they read. We are delivering an experience that delivers the very best from around the world and titles from the most beloved local authors. In partnership with some of the best retailers, we’ll set the standard for digital reading in India."
Haja Sheriff is the country director of Kobo India. He said with a digital content in “steady” demand, this was the right time for Kobo to enter India.
Surjit Verma, vice-president of commercial at W H Smith, said the company was “thrilled” to partner with Kobo after it had enjoyed “tremendous success” working with the company in other international markets.