Press Release: The Arab Publishers Association Meets with Dr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid

Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication – Kingdom of Morocco

Today, Saturday, May 2, 2026, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, met with the Arab Publishers Association and the International Publishers Association on the sidelines of the 31st edition of the International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat. 
 The meeting was attended by Dr. Ghazlan Darous, Director of Books, Libraries, and Archives at the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco; Mr. Mohamed Rashad, President of the Arab Publishers Association; Mss. Ghvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association; Mr. José Borghino, Secretary-General of the International Publishers Association; Mr. Ahmed Rashad, Member of the Executive Committee of the International Publishers Association; Mr. Tarek Sleiky, President of the Moroccan Publishers Association; and Mr. Hicham Alami, President of the Professional Union of Publishers in Morocco.

Press report on the meeting of the Arab Publishers Association and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)

As part of the activities of the 2026 Rabat International Book Fair, an important meeting was held between the Arab Publishers Association and the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) at the organization's headquarters within the fair, with the presence of several prominent figures from both sides. 
Attendance 
The Arab Publishers Association was represented by: 
• Mr. Mohamed Rashad 
• Dr. Mohamed Al- Maalej
• Mr. Salami Maki 
 • Mr. Bakr Zidan 
• Mr. Mohamed Al-Attabi 
• Mr. Mazen Mesto
• Mr. Yazan Yaqoub 
ISESCO was represented by: 
• Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center 
• Dr. Mohamed bin Saadoun Al-Anzi, Head of the Publishing and Library Department 
• Mr. Mohamed Al-Ansari, Representative of the Culture and Communication Sector 
• Dr. Khalid (from the organization) 
Main points of the meeting: 
The meeting focused on enhancing the presence of the Arabic book in non-Arabic speaking Islamic countries through a series of practical initiatives, most notably: 

The Publishers' Association Issues 

A study on publishing in the Arab world covering the years 2022 and 2023 
The number of books published for the first time rises to 93,000 titles 
Djibouti and the Comoros appear for the first time on the Arab publishing map 

The Arab Publishers Association issued a study on the publishing movement in the Arab world for the years 2022 and 2023. Professor Mohamed Rashad, the head of the Association, stated that many data points in the Arab publishing arena indicate an unprecedented rise in publishing activity in the region. This is a natural result of increased awareness and interest in reading among the younger generations. 
All of the above are positive indicators. On the other hand, there are many negative indicators, the most challenging of which is the unprecedented rise in paper prices. This has negatively affected the demand for printed books and increased the demand for digital books.
The study indicates that the greatest threat to the publishing industry is the slow encroachment of major international publishing companies. Gradually, these companies have begun to seize the supply budgets of Arab universities, and the university textbook, which has been a driving force behind the Arab publishing movement, particularly since the 1970s, has declined. Therefore, in this study, we dedicated a section to the university textbook. On the other hand, the publishing of heritage encyclopedias from verified manuscripts in print, and the multiple editions of the same verified manuscripts, all constitute a waste of effort that requires discussion. This led us to open the door for discussion on this approach. For this reason, the Arab Publishers' Association, in collaboration with the Institute of Arab Manuscripts, aimed to create a website for Arabic manuscript heritage to avoid the repeated publication of verified manuscripts, to build a database for researchers, and to provide data on unpublished manuscripts to encourage their publication.

It is an advanced electronic step through which it sought to define, preserve and support copyright and publisher rights, and it is also a step for communication and synergy with publishers, writers, writers and authors to provide a stable and stable environment in order to preserve intellectual property and protect the rights of creators and to serve present and future generations

For those of the Federation who wish to file a complaint regarding an intellectual property dispute, please fill out

The following form and send it to the General Secretariat office by email: nsharif@arab-pa.org