Opción Libros

OPCION LIBROS -  Restructuring the Economic Sector and Developing External Trade

Country: Argentina

Project initiated in: 2006

Presented by: UNESCO

Partners: Directorate of External Trade in Buenos Aires

Project budget: EUR 160 000

- Back to the Projects Overview page -

// Context

The city of Buenos Aires includes approximately 80% of the editorial and publishing industry of the entire country. In the city, there is a long tradition of editing and publishing. In the sub-region, there is one bookshop for every 6 000 inhabitants. 70% of the supply in this sector comes from small- and medium-sized enterprises, but has suffered since 2008 from market “saturation”. SMEs in the sector have increasing difficulties in developing, notably internationally.

// Project objectives

• Contribute towards an increase in the added-value of SMEs in the publishing sector in Buenos Aires.
• Stimulate the distribution and retail circuits so as to guarantee that businesses within the sector increased access to the general public in the country.
• Support the development of an international market and exports by SMEs in the sector.

// Action and impact

Between one and two hundred businesses benefit each year from activities aimed at increasing capacities which are implemented within the framework of this project: training, event organisation, professional exchanges, product distribution (independent publisher catalogues), international development support (support for participating in fairs, organisation of an international literary trade fair). Around forty publishers have been able to take part in major international book fairs thanks to this support.

The 2nd publishing industry trade fair was held during the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires, with the participation of 100 national companies and 33 foreign companies. Over 500 commercial links were made on this occasion and 22 SMEs from the sector were able to make sales, for the first time, to eight different foreign countries. Participating businesses stated that contracts worth over $ 500 000 were agreed. The medium-term development perspectives of these markets are considerable; 92% of foreign participants expressed their desire to take part in the next publishing trade fair.

The project additionally contributes towards the organisation of the comic strip sector, with the release of comic books in Buenos Aires bookshops. Up to now, these were only sold in newsagents.

Organising promotional and distribution activities, such as the “All-night bookstore” initiative have led to an instilled interest by the general public and an increase in bookstore sales.

This project, by fulfilling the various requirements and needs of SMEs in the publishing sector, has allowed this cultural activity sector to be consolidated, whilst ensuring sustainability of the project in terms of the development and sustainability of private businesses in Buenos Aires.  

- Back to the Projects Overview page -