Participating in Publishing Futures 2026, including the opportunity to attend the 35th International Publishers Congress in Kuala Lumpur, left a deep impact on Vita Agustina, founder of the Yogyakarta-based independent publishing house Bening Pustaka. Through intense discussions and sharing sessions, the six-day fellowship in Malaysia brought fresh perspectives that shifted how Vita viewed both her local publishing ecosystem and global prospects.
Ideation through conversation
The journey began immediately with a sharing session where ten Publishing Futures 2026 delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK gave presentations about their respective publishing landscapes. Hosted at the British Council Malaysia office, the session continued with a small yet very in-depth group discussion among fellow publishing professionals.
A presentation by one of the speakers, Amir Muhammad, stood out for Vita. Titled Publishers: Balancing creative risk with commercial viability, the session provided great insights into the future prospects of book publishing and the emerging opportunities within the industry.
Key takeaways from The Congress
The momentum continued into the International Publishers Congress, where the future of books and the publishing ecosystem were further discussed. Despite the competition posed by ever-advancing digital media such as e-books, films, and games, the position of physical books remains unbeatable.
Another discourse explored was the liberty to publish books. While global conversations frequently champion this freedom, the reality of navigating restrictions remains a persistent challenge for many.
For Vita, the forum on organising book fairs proved especially relevant. Coming from Yogyakarta, a city known for its cultural heritage and robust academic environment, she and other local publishers were eager to learn more about how to organise book fairs, coordinate communities, and conceive large-scale literary events.
Meanwhile, the session on navigating the ASEAN Rights Fair marked Vita’s first-ever step into the rights market. While it presented a unique hurdle—requiring distinct negotiation and communication skills—conversations with other participants turned initial challenges into exciting new avenues for growth. She experienced this through discussions with international publishers from the UAE regarding copyrights, as well as with Malaysian delegates to explore potential literary adaptations.
Learning from ecosystem models
Another pivotal takeaway came from Adibah Omar, CEO of Perbadanan Kota Buku, who detailed Malaysia’s robust governmental support for its national book ecosystem. Aside from presenting book-related activities and ongoing events in Malaysia, she also highlighted the crucial role state backing plays in fostering a thriving literary culture and prosperous authors.
Reflecting on these models, Vita considered how similar initiatives could be adapted—rather than simply copied—within Indonesia’s distinct landscape, particularly in her hometown of Yogyakarta:
- International-scale events: Expanding local book bazaars to foster broader international collaborations.
- Translation quality upgrades: Addressing the circulation of low-quality translations through targeted training programmes for writers and editors.
- Bridging global access: Building solid international networks to help regional publishers overcome entry barriers to global events.
- Sustaining local freedom: Leveraging Yogyakarta’s academic foundation and strong local government funding for literacy events, where publishers enjoy the freedom to run community-led initiatives without bureaucratic hindrance.
Looking ahead: Long-term collaborations
Vita envisioned that, true to the spirit of international exchange, the networks forged in Kuala Lumpur would grow into lasting, long-term partnerships. She proposed several actionable initiatives for future collaboration with the British Council:
- The 'Telusur Penerbitan' residency: A cross-border exchange programme allowing industry professionals—from writers and editors to layout artists, technicians, and marketers—to experience end-to-end publishing workflows firsthand in partner countries.
- Targeted rights sales trips: Moving beyond casual networking at book fairs by organising structured visits to foreign publishers actively seeking manuscript acquisitions, giving regional presses direct market access.
- Translation training initiatives: Establishing skill-sharing programmes to elevate translation standards between foreign languages and Indonesian.
- Expanded festival collaborations: Partnering to scale up Yogyakarta’s existing literacy bazaars into major international events, backed by supportive local governance.
Ultimately, international exchange proves that global networks are just the starting point. By translating shared ideas into concrete, long-term collaborations upon returning home, Vita hopes to cultivate a more connected, resilient, and prosperous literary future starting right in Yogyakarta.
