At the Frankfurt Book Fair, held from 18 to 22 October 2023, the Singapore Book Publishers Association (SBPA) presented a National Pavilion titled “Small Island, Big Reads”, supported by the National Arts Council (NAC). Over 200 local books were featured at the Pavilion, covering the four national languages and including a variety of genres.

The Singapore Pavilion attracted hundreds of book browsers and visitors interested in connecting with Singapore businesses. There were also almost 200 visitors to the national reception which was hosted by the Guest-of-Honour, Ambassador Lee Chong Hock from the Singapore Embassy in Berlin. The 75^th Frankfurt Book Fair attracted 105,000 business visitors from 130 countries and 110,000 public participants. There were over 4,000 exhibitors from 95 countries which presented their products and services at the Fair.

Christine Chong, International Book Fairs Lead of the SBPA, said: “There was encouraging interest in Southeast Asian literature, especially works on diasporic experience, local social politics, history and environmental themes. The visitors at the Singapore Pavilion were interested to learn more about Singapore, especially a side of it that is different from common media perceptions. We are also pleased that visitors were keen to buy the books on display”.

Overall, the delegation had a positive experience with the pavilion – both for a sense of belonging with fellow national publishers and for access to potential partners at the Fair. Delegates found that the Fair’s matchmaking platforms and physical meetings enabled them to make many more connections and discussions with international contacts than they would have otherwise.

Difference Engine, a local English-language comics publishing house who recently won Book of the Year at the 2023 Singapore Book Awards, signed a world distribution deal at the Fair with Diamond Book & Comic Distributors, a well-known American distributor. Through this deal, Difference Engine’s works will be available on international platforms starting in 2024.   

Felicia Low-Jimenez, publisher and co-founder of Difference Engine and also co-author of the bestselling kids’ series Sherlock Sam, was one of the Pavilion’s delegates. She said: “The Frankfurt Book Fair enables people to see the diversity of the international publishing industry. It is also an opportunity for participants to understand industry trends and for booksellers to make the necessary connections”.

Besides the literary publishers, Singaporean companies at the Frankfurt Book Fair included educational publishers, printers, distributors, and others from all sectors of the industry. 

“The Frankfurt Book Fair is the largest gathering of publishers, editors and rights agents from around the world, and is a great place to not only promote Singaporean literature but strengthen our connections and find opportunities with fellow Southeast Asian publishers”, added Mr Edmund Wee, President of the SBPA.