In line with the strategy targeting the professionalization of the book sector, the Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, led Tuesday at the National Library the opening of a training day tailored for young publishers. Organized by the National Book Center (CNL) under the slogan “From Idea to Book Manufacturing,” this initiative fits into the ministerial department’s strategy to support sector professionals, bolster their skills, and sustainably back the national publishing industry.
In her address, the minister emphasized that “the development of the book industry relies above all on skills training and the enhancement of expertise.” She reiterated that books remain an essential vehicle for spreading knowledge, consolidating national identity, and building civic awareness.
Consequently, investing in the training of young publishers equals, she specified, investing in the future of Algerian culture.
Evoking the transformations taking place within the sector and the multiple challenges confronting various stakeholders, Malika Bendouda insisted on the necessity for publishing professionals to adapt their tools to digital evolutions and raise the quality of their productions, affirming that the ministry’s ambition is not limited to building an efficient book industry but also aims to set up a genuine national ecosystem capable of ensuring better book distribution among readers.
With this outlook, the head of the cultural department announced several structural measures.
She notably revealed a few key points, including the project to establish a specialized entity in charge of managing the Algiers International Book Fair (SILA), national fairs, as well as organizing the book distribution network.
Bendouda also indicated that her ministry will soon integrate the single window for electronic services dedicated to publishers to simplify import and export procedures while strengthening operational transparency.
She furthermore recalled that her department continues its support for the sector through various mechanisms, including the decision to allocate at least 75% of public book acquisitions to publications from Algerian publishers. This measure, she explained, aims to ensure the financial viability of domestic publishing houses while encouraging investment in local editorial production. Support programs for arts and literary creation complement this apparatus.
The minister also insisted on the strategic role of the publisher, whom she views not only as an intermediary between the author and the reader but also as a cultural and economic actor, and above all, a producer of knowledge.
She called on young professionals to prioritize quality, professionalism, an openness to translation, and international experiences to strengthen the presence of Algerian books on regional and international cultural stages.
Several specialized workshops dedicated to the different steps of the book chain, publishing techniques, sector legislation, publishing house management, as well as the rights and obligations of professionals, filled the schedule for the day.
Participants addressed the challenges of digital and audiobooks before taking part in an experience-sharing meeting bringing together various sector actors, bridging young publishers and seasoned professionals.