About Us

About APNET

African Publishers Network, established in 1992, brings together national publishers’ associations and publishing communities to strengthen indigenous publishing throughout Africa. APNET is a pan-African, non-profit making network with a Secretariat in Accra, Ghana.

Mission

APNET's mission is to strengthen African publishing through networking, training and trade promotion to fully meet Africa's need for quality books relevant to African social, political, economic and cultural reality.

Vision

APNET's vision is to transform African people through books.

What is APNET?

African Publishers Network (APNET) was founded by think-tank African publishers from 9 countries at a conference in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1992. Before that, no publishers knew exactly what their counterparts were really doing elsewhere in Africa, including neighboring countries. In short, communications on books and publishing within Africa were in a wilderness. After several conferences and seminars focused on solving the problems within the African publishing and book trade industry, it was concluded that the need for networking as a means of information-sharing became paramount. It was necessary to set up an umbrella body which would be a network of publishers in Africa.

Thus the formation of African Publishers Network in 1992 with their headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe. It relocated from Zimbabwe to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Due to the political instability in Côte d’Ivoire, APNET’s headquarters is now in Accra in the Bureau of Ghana Languages building.

Training

We investigate training needs for publishing in Africa, organise training for African publishers and to formulate and implement policy and strategy on the co-ordination and consolidation of training resources, curricula, infrastructure and funding throughout Africa and across the entire range of training requirements for publishing.

Trade Promotion

APNET represents Members and also supports Members through partnership with international organisations to participate in international book fairs, business meetings and conferences.

Advocacy

APNET empowers advocacy of national publishers’ associations on strategies, procedures and policy or legal support to avoid unfavourable business environment created against the publishing industry.

Networking

We create meeting platforms, share best practices and promote book fairs and other book trade events which serve the interests of indigenous publishing industries in Africa.

History

African Publishers Network (APNET) was founded by think-tank African publishers from 9 countries at a conference in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1992. Before that, no publishers knew exactly what their counterparts were really doing elsewhere in Africa, including neighboring countries. In short, communications on books and publishing within Africa were in a wilderness. After several conferences and seminars focused on solving the problems within the African publishing and book trade industry, it was concluded that the need for networking as a means of information-sharing became paramount. It was necessary to set up an umbrella body which would be a network of publishers in Africa.

Thus the formation of African Publishers Network in 1992 with their headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe.

It relocated from Zimbabwe to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Due to the political instability in Côte d’Ivoire, APNET’s headquarters is now in Accra in the Bureau of Ghana Languages building.

Objectives

To investigate training needs for publishing in Africa, organize training for African publishers and National Publishers’ Associations

To accelerate the process of intra-African trading in books, in printing and in licensing and of direct trading co-operation and collaboration between publishers in different African countries.

To initiate and develop policy studies on the expansion and economic development of the publishing industries in Africa and to formulate strategies that can be employed by governments, donors, banks and lenders, overseas partners and African publishers and their associations;

To assist in the creation and strengthening of national publishers’ associations in Africa

To take all measures deemed necessary to support, promote and protect indigenous African publishing and to further co-operation and communication between African publishers;

To represent all members’ interests by dealing collectively with all problems as appropriate;

To promote book fairs and other book trade events which serve the interests of indigenous publishing industries publishing industries in Africa;

To influence legislation which promotes the free flow of books across borders and to urge implementations of the said conventions and standards;

To participate in international or national conferences, seminars and meetings where these serve the interests of indigenous in Africa;

What is APNET?

African Publishers Network (APNET) was founded by think-tank African publishers from 9 countries at a conference in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1992..

Call us +233209115191 / +233 30 291 2764

Visit us Bureau of Ghana Languages building, Kawukudi Culture

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