Q:What are the prospects in this regard?
Sesh: I see none…because publishing prefers staying a fragmented
cottage industry.The day the associations merge with full-time officebearers will be the day publishing will have taken a step forward. Until then the API remains a body that will have some activities ticking over to no real purpose or targeted conclusion. But something that is needed there…just in case we are threatened again as MNCs.
[1] EPZs are spatially delimited areas in which manufacturers produce goods that are largely aimed for export markets. EPZs generally offer export-oriented investors a host of advantages in relation to the domestic investment environment.These units operating under certain specific schemes such as EPZs/ special economic zone (SEZs)/ export oriented units (EOUs) are expected to carry out their activities within a customs-bonded area.Any area which is not under the jurisdiction of a customs-bonded area is called a domestic tariff area.
[2]The Government of India provided an opportunity via EPZ to encourage printers to get more overseas business and publishers in India to reduce the end customer price.
The major opposition to EPZ was from most Indian publishing and bookselling associations claiming that there was no level playing field.They wrote to the Ministry of Human Resource Development/Commerce Ministry formally opposing EPZ.
sesh seshadri is Director of Lonely Planet India. He played a key role in Lonely Planet’s entry into the Indian market in 2012. In addition to over four decades of publishing experience, Sesh is an entrepreneur and consultant. He established the publishing consulting company O.V.E.R.L.E.A.F. in 1997, and is a trustee of the Neelbagh Group of Schools. He was also FounderDirector at Textech that specializes in providing content
solutions to publishers.
assoCIatIon of PuBlIshers In InDIa: BuIlDIng PartnershIPs “all industry associations help to connect with the government”
Rohit Kumar
Q: How has Association of Publishers in India (API) evolved over time? Rohit: The API, over the last several years, has evolved in many ways to play a role that helps the government to take the publishing industry seriously. Over the last several years, we have worked together with other industry bodies to make sure that the industry works together to counter situations like GST (goods and services tax), piracy and photocopying. But when you have to work towards the improvement of the sector, these things take time.As the publishing industry continues to grow, we will see more improvement in the industry.
As the President of the API for two years (2013–15) and Secretary before that, I can very well say that API members successfully collaborated in getting the Nielsen report published about the size of the publishing market in India.That also makes it easier in government discussions or any discussion of any stakeholder, whether in India or abroad.
Q: One of the key demands for publishing has been to get industry status.Why do you think this has not happened?
Rohit: Publishing industry is recognized as a small-and medium-size industry—this categorization was done several years ago.The Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) obtained this status 10 to15 years ago.The reason for asking for industry status is to get better financing. But there are other issues which need to be addressed, like GST, taxation and reverse charges. If you do an Industry poll, industry status will come at
number 3 or 4.
116 building partnerships Q:What has been the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) role in improving government and industry connect?
Rohit: FICCI plays a very key role as the government listens to FICCI. Being part of both FICCI and API, has helped the industry as it gave us a way to reach the government through multiple channels.Whether it’s the FIP, FICCI, or API—all these industry associations help us to create awareness with the government.
rohit kumar is Managing Partner of Guiding Star Digital Publishers LLP and its subsidiary Chapter Apps Inc, where he is building and leveraging mobile technology platforms to improve productivity
for professionals and students. Prior to starting his entrepreneurial ventures, Rohit was Managing Director, South Asia, Health Science Division, Reed Elsevier India. He was President of the Association of Publishers in India during 2013-15, and Co-Chair of the FICCI Publishing
Committee during 2013-16. assoCIatIon of PuBlIshers In InDIa: lookIng to the future
“We work towards making India a knowledge economy”
Ratnesh Jha Q:What have been the key focus and challenges for API in the last few years?
Ratnesh: In recent times we have been embracing changes that have had a fundamental impact on how the publishing industry operates, be it incorporating the GST or advocating the cause of copyright and quality learning to take India to excel as a knowledge economy.
API has matured as the voice of the industry and is playing a crucial role to articulate the views and concerns of the publishing industry in India.With the ongoing engagement between key stakeholders, policymakers and other industry bodies, API is now being actively called upon for their opinion and participation in taking forward the charter of developing India as a nation par excellence. Today API works along with FICCI, DIPP (Department of Industry Policy and Promotion) and collaborates to put together a point of view on Intellectual Property that is represented at WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).
I am proud to see API working in tandem with the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) and building a coherence of thought and approach.As a key player of the knowledge industry, we are striking a fine balance to ensure we contribute to build India’s success story by enabling our generations with the right knowledge and skill.
Having said that, I believe that there needs to be the right balance which not just caters to market and its requirements but also takes care
of the publisher.We are a global organization that knows what the local
118 looking to the future demands are and present to our audience what they need in just the way they want it.With immeasurable local investments, we can humbly say that we contribute to job creation in the nation. Hence,API lends itself to working on developing a strategy which not only benefits the association, but also the learners, the researchers and the educators,which in turn acts to the advantage of India as a knowledge economy.
Q:What, if any, are the key issues that foreign publishers face today and have to collectively tackle?
Ratnesh: As value creators in India, we are instrumental in enhancing Indian research and making it available to the rest of the world.With policymakers partnering in our endeavours, we wish to be acknowledged as local players and present ourselves as agents of growth and contributors to the nation.We will carry on collaborating with the policymakers and make a mark for India on the global map.
Q:What is the relationship of API with other industry bodies? Are there any points of convergence?
Ratnesh: We work together with other industry bodies to solve myriad challenges as we share common values and work on common themes. The copyright theme can be highlighted as a case in point, we worked in close association with FIP, FICCI, DIPP and other agencies collectively. With concerted efforts and synergies, the collaboration worked to the advantage of all the stakeholders.
Q: As API President and FICCI Co-Chair of Publishing, how do you see this dual role working to the advantage of the industry? Ratnesh: Common challenges like copyright, piracy, and many more can be catered to if we work together.API is an important stakeholder at PubliCon (FICCI flagship programme); this collaboration not only takes care of the industry but also representatives from across the globe. With efforts steered in the same direction, FICCI and API are together working towards carving a niche for the nation.As one of the leaders
of FICCI and API, I attempt to help the industry in a joint set of
ratnesh jha 119
imperatives and objectives and ensure that issues are addressed collectively in a logical manner. Q: Publishing does not have industry
status; is this on the agenda of API, FICCI, FIP, etc.? How important is this in the long-term growth and survival of the industry?
Ratnesh: Mostly seen as a fragmented industry, we do have a classification as an industry but we are working towards being recognized as an organized industry.We need to work in diverse areas like taxation, consolidation, copyright, and individual as well as collective initiatives as an industry.As we work to be known as a superior knowledge economy, we are all set to move to the next level.We need to respond to policy measures in a positive manner and grow together.
Q:What has been FICCI’s role in influencing the governmentindustry connect?
Ratnesh: FICCI as an industry body represents the industry to the policymakers. Understanding what we stand for and fully comprehending our requirements, it has always aided us to grow and fare well as an industry.Working in association with the government and policymakers, FICCI gives us a reach and ensures that we are recognized as an industry body. It helps us to positively contribute as a growing knowledge industry.
ratnesh jha is Managing Director, South Asia, Cambridge University Press, and President of the Association of Publishers in India (API). His management career spans over two decades and he is passionate about the education ecosystem. He is Co-Chair of the FICCI Publishing Committee and a member of the Higher Education Committee. He also advises start-ups and works
as a fundraiser and volunteer for NGOs. 24
fICCI PuBlIshIng CommIttee
“Connecting the publishing industry to the government”
Sumeet Gupta Q: How and why was the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Publishing Committee set up? What are its objectives and how are these implemented? Sumeet: Books have always been regarded as an important medium for the development and promotion of human values.They record new ideas, preserve and communicate knowledge, impart education and values, and aid the overall development of an individual. Books serve as the backbone for creation of knowledge economy.The book publishing sector in India is the second largest in the world in English-language publishing. Current statistics reveals that the sector is truly a colossus—a giant in slumber, which needs to be awakened and given its due status and identity.
Releasing the promise and potential that this sector offers, FICCI instituted the Publishing Committee in 2011. FICCI’s publishing desk has the following objectives:
• Address key issues confronting the publishing sector, both in terms
of policy and trade.
• Provide thought leadership in the area of publishing.
• Represent the Indian publishing community in various international
forums and look for opportunities for Indian publishers abroad.
• Identify gaps and create opportunities for capacity building.
• Conceptualize and develop programmes for the support and benefit
of the publishing sector. Q: How are the members chosen and how has this evolved over time?
Sumeet: The members of the FICCI Publishing Committee represent all genres of the publishing ecosystem, K-12 publishing, higher education publishing, trade publishing, distributors and printers.We also have players who are from the digital space.They all are FICCI members. Besides leading publishing houses, we work closely with various sectoral associations. In fact, the Association of Publishers in India (API) is member of FICCI.The committee has evolved over the last few years. Due to the kind of work that we have done and the value organizations perceive in getting associated with us, we are getting quality membership.
Q: How does this committee fit with the other committees that FICCI has and is there any convergence or connect?
Sumeet: The Publishing Committee has some connect with the Education Committee, both school as well as higher education. Publishers are essential stakeholders in the education ecosystem, be it curriculum design or delivery mechanism. I see a large connect there. With the increase in digital content both in production and the way content is consumed, there is a trend towards convergence. Consumers would like to have the availability of content anywhere, on any device, and at any time.There is a connect with the entertainment segment as well.There are tremendous opportunities for content to be monetized across various platforms and in various forms. Books to screen is probably the most obvious model; however there are opportunities in new media as well like animation, gaming and licensing & merchandising (L&M). The mobile is emerging as one of the promising platforms to ensure reach and delivery.
Q:What is the relationship with other industry bodies? Are there any points of convergence?
Sumeet: As mentioned earlier, we work closely with other sectoral associations.The API is a FICCI member and we work with the
leadership of API in driving industry agenda. Q:What has been FICCI’s role in influencing the government– industry connect? What are the key issues before publishers today and can FICCI help in resolving them?
Sumeet: FICCI has been playing a key role in policy advocacy with the government.We take up issues that are confronting the industry and try to get favourable decisions.There are various policy issues that we have taken up on behalf of the publishing sector—copyright is one such issue, another being ISBN.We have been involved with Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) earlier and now with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in areas related to intellectual property like anti-piracy and copyright.We have also been actively working with US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in India as far as protection of copyright in the context of publishers is concerned. Our involvement is also with National Book Trust (NBT), India, as far as the creation of a book reading culture is concerned.We partner with NBT to provide overall fillip to the publishing ecosystem. In the past, we have advocated for industry status for the publishing sector.We have got engaged with the MHRD and other stakeholders on the issue of content liberalization on behalf of K-12 publishers.We have also done some advocacy around the proposed National Book Promotion Policy, which is still at the draft stage.We essentially provide connect to industry with government to articulate demands and expectations.
Q:What is the specific role in copyright advocacy?
Sumeet: Copyright is one of the most important areas of concern for any kind of creative industry; publishing of course is one.We have continuous engagement with the government on this front.We have organized various programmes on sensitization and awareness on protection of intellectual property (IP) specifically from the publishing perspective.We have come out with various policy documents, white papers and reports for advocacy. Besides the Government of India, we have also taken initiatives with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).We are currently working closely with the DIPP and have regular engagement on various
aspects of IP concerning the publishing community. Q:What have been the key focus areas for FICCI in the last few years which aid/provide support to the publishing community? Sumeet: Besides policy advocacy, we have also been focusing on providing trade opportunities for publishing houses.We have tied up with the London Book Fair (LBF) where we organize India-centric sessions to explore joint opportunities with global counterparts.We also come out with FICCI rights catalogue, which is done in partnership with the LBF. This rights catalogue is distributed to all the rights managers present at the festival.The objective is to explore opportunities of rights trading, co-publishing, distribution, etc.This initiative has been well received.We have also done some activities at the Frankfurt Book Fair in the past. In the recent past, we have also engaged with the Kochi Lit Fest (KLF). In continuation of our endeavours to address the issues of copyright and piracy in South Asia, we have organized programmes in this region.
We have our annual programme by the name PubliCon, which has become the flagship event in the publishing sector.The programme witnesses a congregation of various stakeholders from private enterprises as well as from government, to ideate and debate on the key issues of the sector.We have also instituted a progr
amme exclusively for K-12 publishing by the name of Scrapbook, which caters to issues pertaining to school publishing, involving various actors like schools, education boards, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), MHRD, and of course publishing houses. In partnership with the NBT and MHRD, we organize a business breakfast for CEOs of publishing houses, CEOSpeak over Chairman’s Breakfast, during the New Delhi World Book Fair. It is an exclusive and elite programme of the World Book Fair.The forum has emerged as a major platform for decision-makers of the publishing sector to share and exchange ideas. In addition to this, we keep on organizing various programmes related to issues of copyright, sharing of best practices, and capturing emerging trends.We have also started focusing on other important players in the publishing domain like editors
and authors. Q: PubliCon has been organized for a number of years.What has been achieved via this forum? What are the gaps and the way forward?
Sumeet: PubliCon has become a flagship industry programme in publishing.We have tried to address different aspects of publishing during various editions of the programme.Topics ranging from digital publishing to IP protection including digital rights management (DRM), content monetization, export markets, school publishing, publishing services and book marketing have been covered in our previous programmes. Over the years, PubliCon has become an ideal platform to advocate policy issues, share best practices, explore business opportunities, networking and marketing. From the last edition, we have tried to bring a fresh outlook in the programming of the event.We have also brought authors to not only participate but articulate their perspectives.We have increased our focus on capacity building as well. Now we are reaching and catering to the wider audience.We have also instituted FICCI PubliCon Awards, for which we have received encouraging response from the industry.The shortlisting and screening process is under way.
Going forward, we intend to address more areas like printing, libraries, publishing services and capacity building.There is tremendous scope in Indian-language publishing and the promising area of translation.The idea is to address various genres and serve
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