Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, a former president of the International Publishers Association (IPA) and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture, spoke candidly on the future of publishing and global literacy at the IPA World Congress 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. Her Highness’s keynote address, “Reading for Literacy,” under the Congress theme “Publishing Intelligence: Sustaining Forward,” examined how publishing should leverage innovation and new technologies while fulfilling its obligation to increase book access and foster reading cultures.
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour contended, drawing on decades of involvement with the international publishing community, that the key issue facing publishers is not just creating more content but also making sure that more people can access it. Following the presentation, Her Highness had a fireside discussion with publishing consultant Emma House about doable strategies for reducing the worldwide reading gap. The conversation covered a number of topics, including the need to support more inclusive and representative publishing leadership, the role publishers play in bolstering reading ecosystems, the opportunities and responsibilities presented by AI, and the significance of collaborations between governments and international organizations.
“For me, publishing has always been about expanding opportunity, strengthening understanding, and ensuring children discover the transformative power of reading,” stated Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi. As a sector, we must make sure that new technologies enable us to reach more groups, readers, and languages. The people we make it possible for to read, learn, and prosper will determine publishing’s destiny just as much as the books we produce.
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