CLOSING REMARKS
by
Atty. Dominador D. Buhain
President, Asean Book Publishers Association (ABPA)
(Delivered on the occasion of the Panel Discussion on Two-Way Traffic in Publishing,
Neka Museum of Art, Ubud,Bali, Indonesia, October 17, 2008))
Premised on the general topic “Two-Way Traffic in Publishing” which is the desired scenario but which is not, we at the Asean Book Publishers Association (ABPA) have attempted to perform courses of action toward achieving the desired traffic flow.
On August 31, 2005 in Quezon City, Philippines, the national book publishing associations or its equivalent of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam through their respective presidents or chairmen affixed their signatures to the ABPA Constitution and By-laws.
It has twelve objectives designed to enhance book publishing exchanges in the region through co-publishing, translation, outright sale, etc. These objectives are:
- To exchange ideas among ABPA-member countries;
- To emulate the best business practices and legal infrastructures among ABPA members;
- To expand co-publishing programmes, translation and distribution rights among ABPA members;
- To promote better understanding and goodwill among Asean countries;
- To have better representation in international forum/fora;
- To work toward securing the right of publishers to publish and distribute the works of the mind in complete freedom, provided that in so doing they respect all legal rights attached to these works within their own country and internationally;
- To promote and protect by all lawful means the principles of copyright on which depend the encouragement and authorship, publishing and dissemination of creative works and to defend copyright against all infringements which may restrict the rights of authors and publishers;
- To overcome illiteracy, the lack of books and other educational materials;
- To promote improvements in editorial and production standards through training and the use of new publishing technology, and to develop more efficient distribution channels;
- To seek the abolition of all tariffs and restrictions, as much as possible, on the importation or exportation of books and raw materials thereof and all present and future forms of electronically retrieved information in order to strengthen the enforcement of the Florence Agreement on the free-flow of information;
- To give effect to these Objectives by establishing such bodies, conventions and other types of meetings and organizations as are necessary for dealing with all problems affecting publishing;
- To provide endorsement and support to the APPA and IPA with the expectation that the latter two Associations shall give reciprocally recognition to the ABPA.
From the time it was organized, speeches and lectures have been delivered under the following dates, topics and places.
| DATE | TOPIC | VENUE |
| May 26, 2006 | PUBLISHING AND BOOK DISTRIBUTION |
TRENDS IN ASEAN REGION
Singapore
August 30, 2006
EXPANDING MARKETING COVERAGE IN THE ASEAN REGION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMON LANGUAGE WHILE
RETAINING THE LANGUAGE OF CULTURE
Manila, Philippines
February 25, 2007
BUSINESS NETWORKING AMONG ASEAN PUBLISHERS
Brunei Darussalam
March 30, 2007
TEN BOOKS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS TO READ
Bangkok, Thailand
April 29, 2007
PUBLISHING: APPLYING THE BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY
Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
August 30, 2008
ENHANCING BUSINESS
PROFITABILITY IN BOOK
PUBLISHING AMONG ASEAN COUNTRIES
Manila, Philippines
February 27, 2008
ENHANCING BUSINESS PROFITABILITY IN THE BOOK PUBLISHING INDUSTRY THROUGH E-MARKETING
Brunei Darussalam
February 13, 2008
MECHANISM IN TRANSLATION AND DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
Taipei
March 26, 2008
SELLING BEYOND YOUR LOCAL BOOK MARKET: NEW STRATEGIES, NEW IDEAS
Bangkok, Thailand
April 5, 2008
COUNTRY REPORT ON THE LATEST TREND AND DEVELOPMENT ON BOOK PUBLISHING
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The ABPA has also passed fifteen (15) resolutions which include “Resolution Urging the Asean Member-Countries to Adopt a Common Language as well as Maintain Language of Culture.”
During the latest strategic meeting in Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, it was resolved that attempts should be made to translate into English or common language speeches during bookfairs delivered in the local languages.
Problems of individual countries are attempted to be given solution by ABPA with the assistance of the Asia Pacific Publishers Association (APPA) and the International Publishers Association (IPA) such as the concerns of IKAPI.
On the occasion likewise of the Singapore Book Fair on May 31, 2008 the first ABPA Book Awards took place and the ABPA website was launched.
All the ABPA member-countries together with other APPA member-countries like Korea, Japan and Republic of China are encouraged to attend the bookfairs of these countries. Fora such as this and other related activities are likewise encouraged to be held during said bookfairs.
The pertinent laws like copyright and national book policy are being collated from the ABPA and APPA member-countries to ascertain which are the best laws and practices to emulate.
Although it may prove to be expensive, it maybe the only way to promote closer relationship to ultimately achieve the desired economic gains and the accelerated exchange of knowledge within the region with the view of ultimately attaining the two-way traffic of publishing not only from west to east but from east to west.
Moreover, we would also unearth the strength and weaknesses of the member-countries. Singapore for example may be tapped as the marketing arm of the Asean countries. Brunei Darussalam may be tapped as the training area, etc.
Again, although many fine-tunings have yet to be made, the first step to a journey of a thousand miles has already begun.
Thank you.