1. Book Show
Book Show (Book Exhibition)
The 34th Books Show lasted for twelve days - from 29 March to 9 April 2006. The Show was at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. This event was joined by 390 Publishers and financed by: The Stock Exchange of Thailand, Thai Paper Company Limited, Thailand Post Company Limited, and Digital Entertainment Company Limited.
This Book Show was organized by PUBAT in the aim of drawing the attention of people from all walks of life in Thailand to reading books and continuing to read. The Show was open from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. At the Show, a lot more people came to see and buy books than we expected. We hope that more and more Cambodian people will enjoy reading because the number of printing houses is increasing, and someday we will be able to organize such an event in our neighbouring country.
2. Meeting with Book Publishers of ASEAN
This meeting, organized by ASEAN Book Publishers through Association in Bangkok, was attended by representatives from Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. This meeting was held from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm with the theme "Mutual Understanding for ASEAN Translation".
There were two distinct points of view: Some people wanted to have books translated from one native language into another foreign language, while others wanted to have books translated into English only rather than translated into many languages. Another problem was where to get the budget to support the translations. Some participants said the governments should help, whereas some said the private sector should. The meeting did not reach any breakthroughs but it was an initial exchange of ideas. However, the meeting agreed on an slogan: "The Book is the Best Embassy".
3. Visits to printing houses
In our visits to these printing houses, we intended to find out and learn about ways to produce cheap but good quality books for Cambodia. After meeting with the managers of several printing houses, we received some recommendations follows:
- -We should have qualified technicians/mechanics to operate machines.
- - We should have modern machines, good paper, and ink in order to minimize product damage.
- - A large number of books must be printed.
- - Workshops on each sector must be held.
Our conclusion is that the human resources and the number of books to be printed were the fundamental factors for producing good quality but cheap books.
4. Visits to Book publishers
The Group visited Nanmee Books 31 March 2006. A publisher with 30 years of experience, Nanmee translates 200 books every year into the Thai language.
Ms. Ouey Chit Bunnath, the Rights Manager, said that before the company translates a book the company has to buy the rights of the foreign publisher and negotiate the price. She noted that the cost of the copyrights was usually 6% of the price on the price tag stick on the books for sales. Our objectives during the short visit were:
- (1) to see the printing and publishing process, distribution, and marketing,
- (2) to see prices, human resources, equipment, and raw materials,
- (3) to learn about good practice in printing and taxation by the government,
- (4) to learn about human resources management and working hours,
- (5) to learn about the uses of equipment and materials,
- (6) to learn about the printing process from the beginning to the end, and
- (7) to know the distribution process.
- The Group visited several other printing houses such as:
- PhonWarin Printing LTD.
- National Multimedia PLC
- Amarin Printing and Publishing PLC.
- - materials and equipment
- - human resources, and
- - quantity of books printed
- Are the factors for cheap but good quality printing.
The Group also talked with some small-scale printing houses such as O.S printing house and Silkworm Books, and discussed support of printing in Cambodia with the German Embassy in Bangkok and Mr. Puttaporn Saengratanadej, the representative of Thai Paper Company Limited.
After the visits, we learnt from these small, medium and large-scale printing houses and publishers about the production line, printing, modern printing technology from the two factories. However, we learnt more from small-scale printing houses than the large-scale ones because the smaller printing houses much more similar to the scale of printing in Cambodia. In the future, we will be able to cooperate regarding skills for printing, human resource management, and the use of paper, ink, and coloring.
In order to have cheap but good quality printing in Cambodia, the local printing houses will need to strengthen their productivity and find business partners, so we would like to call for more local and foreign investors in printing in Cambodia so that the prices and quality are competitive in the market. Moreover, there should be information sharing between the book writers and the printing houses.
In conclusion,