Bangkok: The Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Press has reached a preliminary agreement to license 200 Malay-language e-book titles to Oxford University Press (OUP), marking a step in expanding the global reach of local academic works.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, UPSI Press director, Associate Professor Dr Nordiana Hamzah, stated that the agreement was achieved following its participation in the Bangkok Fellowship Programme. This event was held in conjunction with the Thailand International Book Fair from March 27 to 28 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Dr Nordiana mentioned that further details of the transaction will be finalised by the legal teams of UPSI and OUP before the agreement is concluded. She emphasized that their participation not only created opportunities for global professional networking but also led to meaningful progress with the preliminary agreement to license e-book titles to OUP.
Dr Nordiana also revealed that an Indian publishing company, Aram Publication, has shown interest in acquiring the publishing rights for several selected UPSI titles, with initial discussions progressing positively. She explained that the Bangkok Fellowship Programme is a professional initiative aimed at bringing together publishers, editors, and industry players from around the world to strengthen networks, share expertise, and explore strategic collaborations. The programme is held alongside the Thailand International Book Fair, one of Southeast Asia's largest book events and a key platform for copyright trading and the exchange of ideas within the global publishing industry.
Among the titles identified for international licensing are "Malay Women in Colonial Texts" by Lajiman Janoory, "Reef Life: The Heart of Malaysian Sea" by Norhayati Daud, "Alice and Her Magic Scarf," "Bella's Newfound World," and "Mary the Cook and The Dragon" by Mahendran Maniam, "Dewa Pechil" by Patricia Ann Hardwick and Fara Dayana Mohd Jufry, "Puteh Mariah Srikandi Politik Tidak Didendangkan" by Mohamed Jeffri Haji Mat Lazim and Ishak Saat, and "Pertemuan di Tepi Tasik" by A. Wahab Rauf. Dr Nordiana said the interest shown reflects the potential of UPSI publications to penetrate international markets, particularly in South Asia.
Additionally, during the Bangkok Rights Fair, UPSI Press engaged in strategic meetings and negotiations with representatives from publishing houses in Thailand, China, the United Kingdom, India, Turkey, and South Korea to explore collaborations, including joint publishing ventures and copyright exchanges. The Rights Fair was officiated by Thailand's Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, Pornvit Sila-On, along with the President of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), Nattakorn Vuttichaipornkul, underscoring a commitment to advancing the global publishing industry.