Egypt’s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli and Culture Minister Enas Abdel Dayem attended on Thursday the opening of the 53rd edition of the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF).
The cultural event, held under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi at Egypt International Exhibitions Centre in New Cairo, will last till February 7 under the title: “Egypt’s Identity – Culture & the Question of the Future”.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by a host of ministers, senior state officials, diplomats and foreign and Arab guests including Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts Malika Bendouda and Greek Ambassador to Egypt Nikolaos Garilidis whose country is the guest of honour of the fair this year.
The prime minister asserted that opening the fair on time is a positive message to the world that reflects the state’s keenness to stick to the schedule of the local and international events despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Madbouli and the accompanying delegation toured some pavilions including that of the defence ministry, which displays stories and books about the heroism of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
He visited the pavilion of the Ministry of Interior, which showcases books about Egypt’s national security, efforts to combat terrorism and human rights.
The prime minister visited Al-Azhar pavilion and got acquainted with its religious books and the pavilions of the New Administrative Capital and Halayeb and Shalatin.
A total of 1,067 Egyptian, Arab and foreign publishers are taking part in this year’s edition.
Organizers of the fair announced that unvaccinated people will not be allowed to enter the book fair.
Writer Yehia Haqi is the main personality of the book fair. Meanwhile, writer Abdel Tawab Youssef is the main character of the Children’s Book Fair.
An award for the Best Arab Publisher will be granted for the first time during the 53rd Cairo International Book Fair and the value of the fair’s prizes increased to LE 40,000 instead of LE 10,000 in each cultural field.
Furthermore, online sale of books is made available on the exhibition’s digital portal and delivery services are provided in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications represented by the Egyptian Post to any place in Egypt.
The Ministry of Culture will present a large number of its publications within the “Your Culture is Your Book” initiative to provide books at affordable prices.
