Why Mekong Press?
The Region
The waters of the Mekong and its tributaries form a natural, cultural and historical link between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China's Yunnan Province. This is a vibrant region of some 250 million people, which is growing economically, with thriving cities and rich cultures.
Books in the Mekong region
The size and strength of the publishing sector varies widely between the Mekong subregion countries. While Thailand and Vietnam have vigorous local book industries, Cambodia and Laos are struggling with the gamut of poor literacy rates, the destruction or neglect of reading and writing and a scant infrastructure for distribution. Publishing in, and translation from and into, local and foreign languages entails a long-term commitment and commercial risks which few foreign presses or distributors are willing to undertake. Local writers and small publishers alike face enormous obstacles to having their work globally distributed and accessible.
Writing from this region has been largely ignored by global publishers because:
• Books have primarily been written and published in local languages.
• The book sector is dominating by state or NGO publishing, rather than commercial publishers (with the exception of Thailand).
• Professional editors, designers and other key publishing staff are in short supply.
• The local market is diverse, segmented, complex and often poorly regulated.
Mekong Press is prepared to be one publisher paving the way for local and foreign publishers by concentrating on the work of local authors and distributing these titles internationally.
Mekong Press Foundation
Objectives
To encourage and support writers and scholars in the Greater Mekong Sub-region to produce written or artistic work about the region, with a view to publishing and disseminating their work.
• To publish and distribute the works produced internationally.
• To establish a socially concerned publishing entity in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
• To encourage translation work within the region.
• To create a network among publishers in the region in order to strengthen and improve publishing standards and to enable local publications to reach a wider readership. |
