PKB Strengthens Regional Ties Through Digital Publishing Collaboration With India, Thailand

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Kota Buku (PKB), an agency under the Education Ministry, is strengthening regional publishing ties through strategic digital publishing collaborations with companies from India and Thailand to expand cross-border content distribution.

The collaboration was formalised through a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed on March 28 between PKB and Sixthsense Publications from India, as well as Mocca Group and Silkworm International Co Ltd from Thailand.

This landmark initiative is implemented through the Book Capital Platform’s International Section (mall.bookcapital.my), a digital ecosystem developed specifically to facilitate access to and visibility of international works in the Malaysian market.

PKB chief executive officer Adibah Omar said the collaboration marks an important step in strengthening global publishing relationships and fostering cross-border exchange of knowledge and content.

“We believe this collaboration represents a meaningful step toward strengthening global publishing ties and fostering broader exchange of knowledge and content across borders,” she said in a statement here today.

She said PKB also values the opportunity to build mutually beneficial partnerships, thereby contributing to the growth of the regional publishing landscape.

The collaboration is designed to provide an efficient and sustainable pathway for international publishers to enter the Malaysian market without the traditional need to maintain physical inventory.

“By leveraging a low-risk market entry model centered on Print-on-Demand (POD) production, partners can ensure responsive order fulfillment through PKB’s local ecosystem and regional network,” PKB said in a statement today.

The corporation said the initial phase involves the inclusion of publisher profiles and the listing of approximately 100 selected titles from each partner, covering both new works and existing collections.

It noted that the collaboration goes beyond distribution, encompassing long-term potential in copyright exchange and strengthening publishing networks across Southeast Asia.

“The shared commitment between PKB and its international partners, including K S Pugalendi of Sixthsense Publications, Sirirat Meesilp of Mocca Group, and Trasvin Jittidecharak of Silkworm International Co Ltd, extends beyond distribution alone,” the corporation said.

PKB added that the initiative is expected to support large-scale content distribution through digital solutions, contributing to the continued evolution of the international publishing ecosystem.

-- BERNAMA