CEOSpeak Over Chairman’s Breakfast 2026, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, offered a meaningful platform for strategic dialogue among global publishing leaders. Held on 11 January 2026 at The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi, the event took place alongside the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 (10–18 January 2026) at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, bringing together CEOs of leading publishing houses, policymakers, ambassadors, and cultural counsellors from India and abroad.
Now in its 13th edition, CEOSpeak has grown into a respected forum for discussing the evolving challenges and opportunities within the publishing ecosystem. The 2026 edition continued this tradition by encouraging forward-looking conversations on market trends, innovation, policy frameworks, and the future of reading in a rapidly changing global environment.
At this edition of CEOSpeak, I participated as the Moderator for the panel discussion titled “Decoding the Future of Publishing.” The session was designed to explore how publishing is being reshaped by digital transformation, global market shifts, policy interventions, and changing reader behaviour, while also reaffirming the enduring relevance of books and knowledge institutions.
I had the privilege of moderating an eminent and diverse panel comprising Mr Takashi Omura, Global Strategic Manager, Popal Publishing Co. Ltd., Japan; Ms Sigalit Gelfand, CEO, Israeli Institute for Literature; Mr Sukanta Das, Managing Director, Oxford University Press; Mr Jose Manuel Anta, Managing Director, Federation of Publishers’ Guild of Spain; Ms Asma Al-Kuwari, Director, Nabja Publishing; and Mr Kumar Vikram, Chief Editor & Joint Director, National Book Trust, India. Their global perspectives enriched the discussion with insights drawn from varied publishing markets and cultural contexts.
The conversation covered critical themes such as the future of print alongside digital growth, international rights and translation flows, policy support for publishing ecosystems, and publishers’ responsibility to nurture inclusive, multilingual reading cultures. As Moderator, I focused on steering the discussion toward both strategic thinking and actionable insights that publishers can apply across markets.
The panel reinforced a shared belief that while formats and technologies will continue to evolve, the core mission of publishing to inform, educate, and inspireremains unchanged. Collaboration between publishers, institutions, and governments emerged as a key driver for sustainable and inclusive growth.
My participation at CEOSpeak 2026 reflects my ongoing commitment to contributing to high-level industry dialogue and to engaging meaningfully in conversations that help shape the future of publishing in India and globally.
