Colombian Publishing Sector has the Opportunity to Export to 17 Markets

The business conference that PROCOLOMBIA will hold for the 2013 Book Fair will allow Colombian Publishers to make the most of the trade opportunities identified in at least 17 markets, reported the president of PROCOLOMBIA, María Claudia Lacouture.

"There are buyers and literary agents that recognize Colombia as a new niche in the market with the potential to buy books and copyrights," assured María Lacouture, who also expressed that even though interest is focused on Latin America, there is also the possibility to export to Europe and the United States.

The potential markets include Bolivia, Brazil, the Caribbean, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras).

Around 100 international buyers invited by PROCOLOMBIA will attend the business conference that will take place in Bogota during the Book Fair from April 22 to 24 at Corferias, in Pavilion 8. It is supported by Corferias and the Colombian Chamber of Books.
According to PROCOLOMBIA's analysis, the European Union is one of the markets that, because of its scope, provides the greatest opportunities for Colombians. This is partly due to the reading culture in most of the continent's countries.

According to Mintel's study about the European market, 70% of people prefer printed books, while only 21% expect to buy e-books. Thus, two thirds of the population plan to buy books in 2013.

The same research indicated that 49% of the population likes to shop for books in bookshops (49%). Their reasons include, "holding a book and turning its pages is part of the magic, to collect them on their bookshelves or simply that they do not like reading screens."
However, e-books are part of an important consumer trend, not just in the trading block, but also in countries such as, Mexico and Puerto Rico, where PROCOLOMBIA has found a greater demand.

In Mexico, for example, the sector is expected to grow as the prices of mobile devices and other devices such as tablet computers decrease. This will drive the industry change, to focus more on publishers and the trade of the works' copyrights.