CUP, a feather to the book lover's paradise

Kolkata, Oct 13 (UNI) Kolkata will be the future knowledge bank for both the academicians and learners with the Cambridge University opening its new office here.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new office, Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd (CUP) Managing Director Manas Saikia today said, ''We have taken up a Rs 1200 crore project which will allow better services in the growing educational sector of India along with Bhutan and Bangladesh.'' Cambridge, one of the oldest printing and publishing houses in the world, has acquired 51 per cent in the country's Foundation Books Pvt Ltd (FBPL) and its divisions to rename it as Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd (CUP).

Established in 1992, the FBPL looks after the interest of CUP in South Asia, being the sole importer and distributor of books that serve the students through its affordable low cost editions.

''We will come out with a wide range of books in different academic and educational sectors,'' he said.

The project also aims to allow talented and skilled people make their careers in the world of publishing and printing, Mr Saikia said.

'' We will give thrust on content developing, designing, production and printing,'' he said.

Currently about 200 journals have been produced for the global market with subjects ranging from literature to architecture to world trade, Mr Saikia added.

Meanwhile, CUP CEO Stephen Bourne said, ''It is a daring adventure by the CUP to see face to face with the most reputed Oxford, which has its pioneering presence in the city since long,'' Realising the country's potential in emerging as the second largest English language market in the world, the deal would help Indian authors to garner wider reach and distribution in the global market, Mr Bourne said.

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