The conference brought together Indian publishers, media and content entrepreneurs, authors, literary agents and industry consultants
Saif Al Suwaidi: Removing barriers to growth and market access drives Sharjah’s global expansion strategy
Sharjah, June 11, 2026,
Targeting one of the world’s fastest-growing publishing markets, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone), in partnership with Mint, India’s leading business and financial newspaper, hosted the Global Publishing Exchange 2026 in New Delhi, positioning the emirate as a gateway for Indian publishers seeking international expansion.
The event brought together Indian publishing houses, media and content entrepreneurs, authors seeking to expand international publishing and distribution opportunities, as well as literary agents and industry consultants, alongside senior figures and specialists seeking to leverage the economic ties between the UAE and India.
Five key themes
The conference focused on five key themes: Sharjah’s positioning as a gateway to global markets; taxation and business structuring; India–Sharjah partnerships in publishing; new pathways for Indian publishers to expand internationally; and the strategic advantages offered by SPC Free Zone to support global expansion.
A strong partnership and a platform for growth
The event underscored UAE–India ties as a platform for growth in the publishing sector, with bilateral trade reaching USD 100 billion following the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. It highlighted opportunities to convert this momentum into tangible business outcomes and scalable cross-border partnerships, as India’s publishing industry, valued at over USD 8 billion, continues to expand at an annual rate of 20 per cent.
Greater scope to direct investment into content and talent
In his opening remarks, Saif Al Suwaidi, Director of SPC Free Zone, said: “Sharjah approaches international expansion by removing the complexities that hinder publishers’ growth and access to new markets, allowing them to focus on knowledge creation and building faster, more effective connections. Through an integrated business environment, including the world’s first AI-powered business licence, alongside full foreign ownership and tax advantages, companies have greater scope to direct investment towards strengthening content, talent and business expansion.”
For her part, Rakshita Madan, Editor at Mint, added: “Indian publishers are looking to expand globally, but success is not driven by ambition alone. It depends on the ability to execute efficiently and turn expansion into a sustainable pathway that supports long-term growth.”
Presentation on tax and regulatory frameworks
The conference programme featured Gauri Chadha, Tax matter Expert, who delivered a presentation on UAE–India tax frameworks, outlining the regulatory and tax advantages of Sharjah’s business environment. She highlighted its role in enabling Indian publishers to build more efficient business models, protect intellectual property, and benefit from economic agreements between the two markets.
New pathways for Indian publishers
A panel titled “New Pathways for Indian Publishers” featured Namita Gokhale, author and co-founder of Jaipur Literature Festival; Ramesh K. Mittal, President of the Federation of Indian Publishers; Aditi Maheshwari, President of the Association of Indian Publishers and Booksellers; and Ashish K. Gupta, Executive Director of Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
Speakers examined the transformation of India’s publishing sector, the need for more efficient operating models, and opportunities for collaboration in distribution, rights exchange, digital publishing, and strengthening institutional presence in international markets.
Sharjah and India: building a new bridge in publishing
The conference concluded with a fireside discussion titled “Sharjah and India: Building the next Publishing Bridge”, featuring Iman Ben Chaibah, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets at the Sharjah Book Authority.
She explored ways to strengthen connections between Sharjah and India’s publishing sectors, highlighting the emirate’s role as a platform for networking, deal-making, and business development, as well as the use of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to support growth. She added that the Gulf region’s rising demand for cultural and educational content presents a strong opportunity for Indian publishers seeking new markets and long-term investment.
Capacity to support high-quality partnerships
The conference highlighted the advantages of the SPC Free Zone, which hosts more than 20,000 companies, including over 4,552 Indian firms. These include around 152 companies specialising in publishing, digital publishing, printing and distribution, underscoring the depth of Indian presence within the ecosystem and its capacity to support further high-value partnerships، The emirate also offers a digital platform connecting more than 400 publishing houses across 80 countries for rights exchange, further reinforcing its role as a global centre for the publishing industry.