Why was the Cairo International Book Fair postponed to June 2021?

CAIRO – 29 November 2020: Said Abdo, head of the Egyptian Publishers Union, said that there are several factors that have led to the postponement of the Cairo International Book Fair to June 30, explaining that the fair is usually held from January to February in the winter season, and according to what the Egyptian Ministry of Health announced, COVID-19 will be highly active in winter therefore the chances of contracting it is higher.

He continued, in a telephone interview with Mohammad al-Baz, on Al-Nahar TV, that one of the halls of the book fair has been converted to an isolation hospital, to receive people struck with the novel virus if the numbers increase, and therefore it is illogical to have a wing for visitors and another for isolation.

He added that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the publishing industry has faced amplified problems, not only in the Arab world, but in the whole world, explaining that the Frankfurt exhibition was held virtually which led to its failure.

Abdo also stated the Cairo International Book Fair will be held in its normal date in 2022.