"We would be working under a dual-brand system where one global partner together with a national partner would tap every country individually," said Stephen R R Bourne, chief executive officer, Cambridge University Press.
Recently Cambridge University Press acquired 51 per cent equity stake in New Delhi-based Foundation Books Pvt Ltd and its divisions Foundation Media and Foundation e-Learning. Post acquisition, the entity has been renamed Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd.
Foundation Books registered a turnover of Rs 25 crore last year and managed to publish 120 titles in the last 2 years. They have 11 editors right now based in Hyderabad and Delhi, and is looking at recruiting both free-lancers and employees.
"We would be managing and controlling the operations of Foundation Books from this time on. But would let them retain their imprint," said Bourne.
"We chose Foundation Books because we have been business partners for a long time now," said Chris Boughton, chairman, Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd.
Foundation Books made Cambridge journals available in India and has also been our principal licensee and publishing partner for a wide-range of low-cost editions. Foundation Books has also been providing support services for Cambridge International Examinations and for the University of Cambridge English for Speakers of other Languages Examinations.
"They also have a strong distribution network with six branches in India - New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata. So we thought we should partner with them for a stronger India presence," said Boughton.
"We would make use of Foundation Books' strong distribution network to reach out to more Indians. On the other hand, Foundation Books would also get an international exposure with its association with Cambridge University Press," said Bourne.
Foundation Books would be allowed to use their imprint for publications that cater to the regional Indian market, for school and college level publications, etc.
Also, the publications that don't cater globally would be printed under the Foundation Books logo and exported to specific countries.
Also, the books of regional interest, carrying Foundation Books' imprint, may be sold in UK and other countries if Cambridge University Press feels they would cater to international markets as well.
Whereas Cambridge University Press would continue being the premium publisher mainly for educational material, and their imprint would be used for books with superior quality printing, graphics, research level publications and essentially publications that cater to the entire world.
"This dual-brand operational system may be replicated in countries like South Africa and Australia," said Bourne.
Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd, at present, is investing more than 2 million pounds in India. It would invest 1 million pounds more in recruitments, etc.
"We are not entering into printing or publishing books in regional languages as of now," said Bourne.
Cambridge University Press had tried publishing books in Spanish and in other languages but it did not work out for them because most people don't associate Cambridge with anything other than English, explained Bourne.
"Therefore it makes more sense to focus on work in English," said Bourne.
Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd is looking at publishing more than 3,000 titles a year all over the world.
"We would also set up more offices and stores all over India, besides the 6 that we already have," informed Bourne.
Cambridge University Press is also trying to make all its books available online. As of now, e-commerce contributes 20 per cent to the company's total turnover, with bulk buy from America.
Mainly libraries and schools buy from the company's online portal, with academic books contributing 90 per cent to the total online sales.
The company has also digitised archives of 25,000 titles.
