Egypt’s PM inaugurates 54th edition of Cairo International Book Fair – News – Books

This year’s fair will be open to the public starting 26 January and lasts until 6 February at the International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo.

It will open daily from 10am to 8pm, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it will close at 9pm.

During the inauguration, Madbouly was accompanied by a number of ministers, including Culture Minister Nevine El-Kilani, along with representatives of governmental, national, Arab and international pavilions.

A total of 1,047 publishers are participating in this year’s fair. Of this number 707 are Egyptian, while 340 are from foreign countries, including countries such as  Hungary and the Dominican Republic which are participating for the first time.

Moreover, this year’s edition sees the return of many countries and institutions after years of absence, including Eritrea, India, Ghana, Kuwait, Morocco, the African Publishers Network, the Kuwaiti Research and Studies Centre and the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research.

The fair will also feature a 45 square metre wing for startup publishers, including nine Egyptian publishers whose number of publications does not meet the fair’s participation requirements.

The Ministry of Culture had previously announced that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is this year’s guest of honour.

In addition, the late Egyptian poet Salah Jaheen is this year’s personality, while the Egyptian writer Kamel Kilani, who is one of the pioneers of children’s literature across the Arab world, is the personality of the year at the children’s exhibition.

The fair’s 54^th edition also features for the first time a Youtubers Forum, which will host successful content creation models daily during the fair, according to previous statements by El-Kilani.

According to the culture minister, the move is in line with the government’s initiative to keep up with technological development and digital transformation.

Through the forum, successful social media influencers will share their experience with those who want to start their own projects, said El-Kilani. 

Those wishing to attend the fair can register electronically on the fair’s website.

The last edition saw an exceptional turnout despite tight coronavirus restrictions and cold temperatures.

First inaugurated in 1969, the Cairo International Book Fair is one of the largest in the world and the oldest in the Arab world. It is organised by the General Egyptian Book Organisation and brings hundreds of book sellers from Egypt and abroad.

Around two million visitors attend the fair each year.

Between 1984 and 2019, the fair was held at the Cairo International Fair Zone in Nasr City. In 2020, it was moved to the more spacious and better-equipped International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo where it is still held to this day.

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