In early October 2025, İntrotema had the privilege of participating in the 11th Baku International Book Fair, held from October 1 to 7 at the Baku Expo Center. Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this year’s fair was dedicated to the theme “Techno-Human: Yesterday’s Myth, Today’s Reality”, exploring the intersection of technology and humanity in the modern era.
The event brought together over 180 publishing houses and cultural institutions from Azerbaijan and around 20 countries worldwide, including 41 foreign organizations from 18 countries. This diverse participation underscored the fair’s role as a significant platform for global literary exchange.
İntrotema’s Objectives at the Fair
At the 11th Baku International Book Fair, İntrotema aimed to:
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Present our catalog—fiction, YA, illustrated works—to Arab and international publishers, with special attention to Arabic translation and co-editions.
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Hold meetings with rights professionals, editors, literary agents, and translators seeking new voices and cross-border collaborations.
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Explore licensing, co-publication, and promotional partnerships that bridge Turkish and Arab literary circuits.
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Absorb insights on trends in Arabic readership, translation flows, and how cultural identity shapes publishing demand.
Our team engaged in fruitful conversations with publishers from Egypt, Lebanon, and the Gulf region interested in acquiring translation rights for Turkish novels and children’s books. Some publishers expressed willingness to explore joint editions where the same text can circulate in both Arabic and Turkish markets.
Cultural and Literary Highlights
The fair featured over 250 events, including master classes, presentations on inclusive literature, book signings, conferences, symposiums, and competitions. Special sessions devoted to reading and music added a rich cultural layer to the event, providing industry professionals with opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss trends, and collaborate on future projects.
Qatar was the Guest of Honour at this edition, with noted writers and scholars from Türkiye, Argentina, the UK, Lithuania, Qatar, and others attending.
Looking Ahead
As we depart Baku, we carry with us promising leads, new partners, and renewed inspiration for bringing stories across languages. We look forward to deepening our Azerbaijani–Turkish collaborations, participating in more fairs across the region, and seeding future translations, co-editions, and cultural connections. Until next time, may every page travel well.