At the beginning of the meeting, Masoud Farzaneh, the CEO of Behnashr Publishing (AQR’s printing house), emphasized the importance of expanding international publishing. “Astan Quds Razavi, with its various publishing activities, needs to extend its book publishing activities beyond borders to enable seekers of Imam Reza’s teachings and the culture of Ahlul Bayt to benefit.”
As a writer and founding member of the Iranian Writers' Association, Farzaneh cited Imam Reza’s saying about the importance of spreading knowledge.
Elsewhere in the meeting, a former member of the association, Dr. Mohsen Momeni Sharif, mentioned that creating a translation movement is essential for entering the international publishing field. “Early post-Revolution book print runs were ten thousand copies, which has currently dwindled to some two thousand or even one thousand copies, necessitating a plan to stay in the international market”.
He emphasized that not all works, including folkloric works, are translatable, but best works should be translated by skilled translators fully fluent in foreign languages and the cultures of target countries.
Momeni Sharif also stressed the need for a section to monitor and evaluate the market to adapt works based on the needs of the destination country.
“Additionally, media-attached websites should be designed to introduce works to international publishers”, he urged.
He went on to say: “Wherever translators used artistic language appropriate to the target culture, they succeeded”.
He called for skillful translators to start with top works for children and adolescents on promoting moral teachings, the importance of family, and the necessity of thinking. “For example, animation ‘Shekarestan’ and books ‘Ghesseye Ma Masal Shod’ (Our Tale Sweet as Honey) by Mohammad Mir Kiani have been well-received and would likely be popular internationally if translated”.
Momeni Sharif referred to literary agencies as crucial for translating works and forming alliances with aligned publishers.
He concluded his remarks by highlighting that participation in international exhibitions, obtaining publication permits, and networking with foreign publishers are among the ways to develop and enter the international publishing field.