Literature for export

This year, from May 19 to June 10, there will be a remote professional program of the Book Arsenal, aimed at strengthening the export opportunities of Ukrainian publishers and attracting foreign literary agents to translate Ukrainian books. 

The online program “Literature for Export” includes meetings and workshops with foreign book experts and Ukrainian publishers. In addition, a series of lectures in English on Ukrainian literature, the Ukrainian book market, grant programs for translations of Ukrainian books into foreign languages. A number of talks between Ukrainian and foreign publishers are also planned.

“Literature for Export” is part of the Professional Program of the International Book Arsenal Festival. The project is funded by the EU under the EU4Business initiative and implemented by the EBRD.

“Book publishing is one of the leading creative industries, which has been identified at the governmental level as one of the priority areas for export development. According to statistics, the Ukrainian book publishing industry is based on small and medium-sized businesses, so it needs special support. Over the last few years, the EBRD, with the financial support of the EU under the EU4Business initiative, has been implementing a comprehensive program aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine. One of its components is the Literature for Export program, which aims to support Ukrainian publishers in their quest to enter the world market, which has become a more difficult task in quarantine. The activities planned under the program are designed to help Ukrainian books find their place on the shelves of foreign readers, through the establishment of direct B2B contacts between Ukrainian and foreign publishers, “said Julia Krevska, EBRD representative.

Natalia Tolub