The managment of the 55th edition of Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) worked hard to overcome all the current obstacles and face the ongoing challenges, especially the economic one and managed to win the bet through a number of innovative decisions, services and activities.
The fair is an annual cultural, intellectual and entertainment trip for all bookworms, a forum for all Arab writers, and the largest book market in the Middle East.
Hailed as one of the main soft powers of Egypt, the book fair worked this year to spread reading habit with all its forms, especially with the launch of “We All Read” initiative in the 55th edition with significant discounts to overcome the economic crisis.
This year edition houses huge discounts reaching 70%, therefore the fair contained books for 3 LE, 5 LE and a set of books for 20 LE.
In order to encourage youth to read and readers in general to buy books, a large number of Egyptian and Arab publishing houses launched “We All Read,” initiative under which discounts are given on the books inside the fair's different pavilions.
Also there are important books issued by the National Translation Project, and translated books which werw sold at very low prices.
The book fair was held this year within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which focuses on the transition towards a digital economy and to integrate the largest number of citizens into the financial system, which constituted another challenge.
The Ministry of culture has contracted with an electronic payment company to collect the financial dues of Egyptian and foreign publishing houses and publishers using electronic payment machines and applied QR Code system in addition to activating “Easy Cash” electronic wallet for individuals.
The 55th edition of Cairo International Book Fair managed to deal with all the challenges facing the print industry through cancelling the waiting list that used to contain a large number of publishing houses, especially the new ones.
All the publishing houses that applied to participate in the fair were approved, in addition to encouraging the largest number of publishers to participate, provided that they are members of the Egyptian Publishers Association.
This year there was a pavilion tailor made to small publishing houses that don’t have large number of publications to support the publishing industry as a result 1200 Arab and foreign publishers and official organizations coming from 70 countries participated in the fair.
The fair was keen to discuss the current global technological challenges through organizing a conference to discuss the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The conference highlighted different ways to benefit from the artificial intelligence asserting that it is a useful tool that must be controlled by humans and not the other way around.
During the closing session of the conference, the participants asserted that the artificial intelligence is very important in the publishing industry, noting that the AI will help in the logistical process of transporting books.
To face the current logistical challenges, the 55th edition of CIBF housed a set of services including: books delivery service via the Egyptian Post to any place in order to make the fair books accessible everywhere to ensure cultural justice through spreading books in all the governorates equally.
The fair management was keen to provide special paths for the elderly and those with special needs as well as rest areas for public.
In order to eliminate all the culture barriers, the Ministry of Culture organized various trips to the book fair for young people in rural areas and Haya Karima ( Decent Life) villages, in order to learn about the various activities of the book fair and be exposed to multiple cultural experiences.
As we are living now in the digitalization era, all the fair books are available online so anyone can purchase all the needed books and pay through the multiple payment services provided by the fair in order to digitize all the provided services.
Being the major cultural event for Egypt and the region, attracting visitors from all over the world added another challenge to the CIBF to continue its role in promting culture exchange.
Egyptian Minister of Culture Dr. Nevine El-Kilani and Venezuelan Minister of Culture Ernesto Villegas signed a cultural cooperation protocol at the 55th of Cairo International Book Fair.
The protocol aims to promote cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including literature, art, music, theater, cinema, and the media. It also includes provisions for the exchange of cultural delegations, the translation of books and other cultural works, and the organization of joint cultural events.
In addition to the signing of the cultural cooperation protocol, the Cairo International Book Fair featured a number of other cultural events, including a performance by the Venezuelan National Symphony Orchestra.
The fair also featured a strong representation from Venezuela, with over 50 Venezuelan publishers and authors participating.
The biggest challenge that faced the 55th edition is to organize a massive book fair that preserves the Egyptian identity and reflects Egypt rich history and culture that dates back thousands of years starting with the Pharaonic era, then Christianity and Islam.
So CIBF chose the eminent Egyptologist Dr. Selim Hassan as the main character of the fair paying tribute to all the Egyptian archaeologists.
This choice is a continuation of the state’s vision that culture and antiquities are the main soft powers. Hassan left a great legacy and is one of the scholars who established the importance of preserving our identity and heritage.
This choice reflects to what extent the Egyptian state cares greatly about antiquities and honors archaeologists.
CIBF chose Egyptian writer Yachoub El Sharony who is one of the pioneers of children’s literature across the Arab world, to be the personality of the year at the children’s exhibition.
El Sharouny was one of the most prominent pioneers of children’s literature in the Arab world, with his unique cultural project and a very prolific, diverse and influential literary productions.
Most of El Sharouny literature works were inspired by Egyptian folklore.
He was a creative writer who enriched the Arab library with hundreds of children’s works, leaving an eternal impact in the conscience of every Egyptian and Arab child.
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