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| Moroccan Federation of Publishers | |
|---|---|
| Name | Moroccan Federation of Publishers |
| Native name | Fédération Marocaine des Éditeurs |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
| Region | Morocco |
| Membership | Publishers, printers, distributors |
Moroccan Federation of Publishers is a national trade association representing publishing houses and related firms in Morocco, headquartered in Rabat. It interfaces with cultural institutions such as the Ministry of Culture (Morocco), participates in events like the Casablanca International Book Fair, and collaborates with international bodies including the International Publishers Association, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The federation was established in 1986 amid a period of literary revitalization linked to figures and institutions such as Tahar Ben Jelloun, the Institut Français du Maroc, and the Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture, responding to market changes influenced by the Economic and Social Development Plan (Morocco), the King Hassan II era cultural policies, and the opening of media markets after the 1990s Moroccan economic reforms. Early activities connected it with publishers involved in Arabic, French, and Amazigh texts including houses near the Souk des livres (Rabat) and partnerships with the Centre Culturel Français de Rabat. Through the 2000s the federation expanded during initiatives tied to the 2003 Casablanca bombings aftermath cultural dialogues, the Moroccan Constitutional Reform (2011), and the growth of festivals such as the Marrakesh International Film Festival which intersected with publishing. Recent years saw the federation adapt to digital transition driven by actors like Google Books, the African Union cultural programs, and exchanges with the European Union cultural funds.
The federation is organized with a governing board, an executive committee, and regional chapters reflecting publishing centres such as Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangier. Membership comprises commercial publishers, independent presses, university presses like those affiliated with Mohammed V University, and specialist imprints connected to institutions like the École Normale Supérieure (Rabat). The electoral processes reference statutes influenced by labor frameworks like the Moroccan Labor Code and interact with legal authorities including the Ministry of Justice (Morocco). Affiliate networks include distributors from companies that work with the Casablanca Stock Exchange listings, printers tied to industrial zones such as Tangier Free Zone, and booksellers from associations like the Société Nationale des Libraires.
Programmatic work covers professional development workshops drawing experts from institutions such as Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc, training modules referencing copyright regimes under the Berne Convention and the World Intellectual Property Organization, and literacy campaigns coordinated with NGOs like Bibliothèques Sans Frontières and the British Council. The federation runs initiatives to support translation projects involving partners such as the Fondation Abu Dhabi Culture, the Swedish Institute, and the Institut Français. It also operates accreditation schemes for cataloging standards aligned with systems used by the Library of Congress and the International ISBN Agency.
The federation advocates on policy matters including copyright reform in dialogue with the Office Marocain du Droit d'Auteur and legislative bodies like the Parliament of Morocco. It has issued positions on VAT and taxation measures affecting cultural goods debated in forums such as the Chamber of Representatives (Morocco) and engages with trade negotiation topics related to agreements like the European Union–Morocco Association Agreement. On digital rights it interacts with multilateral frameworks like the World Trade Organization and regional initiatives from the Arab League to shape e-book distribution, interoperability standards, and protections for authors tied to the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques.
The federation publishes directories and catalogues used by institutions such as the Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc, produces newsletters circulated among members and partners like the International Publishers Association, and curates collective stands at fairs including the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Sharjah International Book Fair, and the Cairo International Book Fair. It organizes seminars featuring presenters from the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, the University of Granada cooperation offices, and cultural attachés from embassies such as the French Embassy in Morocco.
Internationally, the federation maintains partnerships with the International Publishers Association, the Arab Publishers Association, and bilateral exchanges with national bodies such as the French National Book Centre (CNL), the British Council, and the Goethe-Institut. Collaborative projects have linked Moroccan publishers with programs from the European Commission Creative Europe scheme, UNESCO literacy initiatives, and translation residencies sponsored by foundations like the Harrassowitz Verlag network and the Fondation Jean-Luc Lagardère.
Critiques have arisen over the federation’s representation balance between large houses and independents, echoed in debates involving collectives like l'Association des Éditeurs Indépendants and public statements referencing publishing disputes similar to controversies seen in Egyptian publishing industry reforms. Other controversies include disputes over copyright enforcement involving the Office Marocain du Droit d'Auteur, tensions during procurement processes tied to municipal book fairs in Casablanca and allegations about preferential access to state subsidies reported by cultural commentators associated with the Rabat Cultural Observatory.
Category:Publishing organizations Category:Organizations based in Morocco