Frankfurt Book Fair Director: Kazakhstan Could Become Future Guest of Honor

In recent years, Kazakhstan has become increasingly active at the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the Frankfurt Book Fair. Each year, a national stand brings together publishers and literary institutions that engage with international partners and expand professional networks. Participation in this global event has supported a range of initiatives aimed at introducing Kazakh literature and culture to a broader international audience. On this occasion, we spoke with Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurter Buchmesse, about opportunities for entering the global publishing market and the significance of becoming a Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair. TCA: As the world’s largest book fair, what new mission or direction is the Frankfurter Buchmesse pursuing today? Juergen Boos: Frankfurter Buchmesse today serves not only as the world’s leading marketplace for rights and content but also as a global platform for cultural exchange and professional dialogue. In a rapidly evolving geopolitical and technological environment, our mission is to strengthen international publishing networks, uphold freedom of expression, and facilitate sustainable cooperation across regions. We aim to connect established and emerging markets alike, encouraging long-term partnerships that extend well beyond the fair itself. TCA: What major changes have you observed in the global publishing industry in recent years? Juergen Boos: The publishing industry is undergoing significant structural transformation. Digital distribution channels, audio formats, evolving licensing models, and the growing application of artificial intelligence are reshaping the sector. At the same time, we are witnessing gradual diversification in the global publishing landscape. Regions that previously had limited international visibility are increasingly seeking engagement beyond their domestic markets. Central Asia is among those regions demonstrating a clear interest in strengthening its international profile, which adds valuable perspectives to the global literary conversation. [caption id="attachment_45243" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo credit: Frankfurter Buchmesse[/caption] TCA: How are digital technologies and artificial intelligence transforming the book market? Juergen Boos: Digital technologies and AI are influencing translation processes, metadata management, copyright issues, discoverability, and market analysis both positively and negatively. On the positive side, AI can increase efficiency and expand access to content. We are already seeing AI evolve from an experimental tool into an integral part of everyday publishing practice. For me, however, literature remains fundamentally human in its origin and intention. Storytelling, cultural nuance, and intellectual depth cannot be automated. The key challenge for the publishing sector lies in integrating technological innovation responsibly while preserving creative integrity and editorial independence. TCA: Can literature help strengthen mutual understanding between nations? If so, how? Juergen Boos: Yes, I believe it can. Literature allows readers to understand other societies through lived experiences rather than political abstractions. Through translation and international circulation, books foster empathy and cultural literacy. Book fairs provide a structured professional framework for such exchange. They enable sustained relationships between publishers, authors, and institutions, thereby contributing to long-term cultural understanding. TCA: Has the importance of books and cultural dialogue increased in today’s geopolitical climate? Juergen Boos: In times of uncertainty and polarization, the role of thoughtful cultural dialogue becomes even more significant. Books create...

Restrained Optimism in Kazakhstan’s Book Market

Kazakhstan’s book market remains in a formative stage, according to optimistic voices in the publishing industry. However, the average Kazakhstani still spends far less on books annually than readers in the United States. Optimists Organize Exhibitions Astana will host the 8th Astana Eurasian Book Fair from April 23-27. Organizers promise one of Central Asia’s largest literary events, featuring 70 companies from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Spain, Portugal, and China, including publishing houses, booksellers, academic institutions, and printers. The Kazakhstani publishing house behind the event is especially upbeat. It plans to accelerate its domestic expansion and grow both sales and its catalog. In 2023, the publisher released 243 projects, approximately 90% of them in Kazakh, according to RegTV. Real Demand Remains Modest Despite this optimism, national statistics suggest a slow uptick in reading interest. In 2024, the volume of services provided by publishing companies increased by just 0.8% year-on-year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Much of that figure still reflects newspaper and periodical printing. Textbooks continue to dominate sales, KazTAG reports. Spending data further illustrates the challenge: the average Kazakhstani spends about $3 per year on books, while Russians spend five times as much, according to Spik.kz. Though a third of the population holds library cards, usage statistics are unclear. A 2023 survey by the AMANAT Institute of Public Policy found that only 26.5% of respondents had read at least one book in the previous year. More than half cited a lack of time (52%), while over one-fifth (21.4%) simply said they did not enjoy reading. Among those who did read, the national average was five books per year. Top reading regions include East Kazakhstan (10.6 books), North Kazakhstan (6.95), and Akmola (6.34), while Shymkent (3.8), Ulytau (3.7), and Zhetysu (3.59) ranked lowest, according to Azattyq Rýhy. More than 80% of published titles are textbooks or teaching aids. Markups at retail locations range from 60% to 100%. Comparatively, annual reading averages in France and Canada are 17 books, in the U.S. 12, and in South Korea 11. In the Shadow of the Russian Market Roughly 90% of books sold in Kazakhstan are printed abroad. In 2022 alone, imports from Russia totaled $14.7 million. This dependence hinders the domestic industry’s development, experts argue. Russian e-books cost just a few dollars, while Kazakhstani publications may sell for $20-$30. Writer Bakhytzhan Bukarbai has warned that Russian publishers, facing international sanctions over the war in Ukraine, are relocating to Kazakhstan and dominating the market. “The state must protect its own publishing industry. Protectionism should work to support Kazakhstani publishers,” he told Kursiv. A study by Orda.kz found that Kazakh-language e-books remain underrepresented and often overpriced, unless they are reprints of classics like those by the celebrated writer Abai. However, such titles are already widespread in most households, and readers are seeking new material. High production costs, exacerbated by reliance on imported paper and materials from Russia and China, contribute to the pricing issue. Kazakhstan also lacks robust self-publishing platforms and a developed...