PKB, MBKM Bring Together Over 300 Book Industry Players To Strengthen Networks

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- More than 300 players in the country’s book industry gathered at a breaking-of-fast event organised by the Perbadanan Kota Buku (PKB) here last night, in an effort to strengthen cooperation networks within the national book ecosystem.

The event, jointly organised with the National Book Council of Malaysia (MBKM), was also attended by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and brought together publishers, writers, educators, agencies under the Ministry of Education and strategic industry partners.

In a statement, PKB said the event was not only aimed at enlivening the spirit of Ramadan but also served as a platform to appreciate the contributions of book industry players in strengthening the culture of knowledge and reading among the community.

“As the leading body in developing the country’s book ecosystem, PKB continues to strengthen its role through various strategic initiatives, including the digital transformation of publishing, the development of e-book and audiobook platforms, as well as industry capacity-building programmes.

“These efforts are guided by PKB’s main objective of increasing the number of new readers nationwide and ensuring access to quality reading materials for all segments of society, regardless of location, financial capability or background,” it said.

At the global level, PKB is gaining greater prominence as the content and collaborations highlighted by the corporation have begun attracting the attention of international industry partners, reflecting Malaysia’s potential as a regional hub for knowledge and publishing growth.

Meanwhile, PKB chief executive officer Adibah Omar said that the book industry plays an important role in building a knowledgeable society and shaping the country’s direction.

“PKB will continue to drive digital transformation, expand access to books and enhance collaboration with MBKM and industry partners so that we can produce more new readers across the country,” she said.

She also expressed optimism that Malaysia can emerge as a soft power in the global book industry through high-quality content, strong creative talent and an increasingly mature publishing ecosystem.

-- BERNAMA