MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – The 26th Minsk International Book Fair, which ran from 6 to 10 February, was visited by 61,800 people, Chairman of the council of the organizers of book fairs in the CIS, Director General of Makbel book selling company Dmitry Makarov said at the closing ceremony of the event, BelTA has learned.
“The 26th Minsk Book Fair has hit many records, including the number of participating countries, the number of visitors, and the number of events held over five days,” Dmitry Makarov said.
The largest book event of the year, Minsk International Book Fair, concluded on 10 February. This year the book forum was dedicated to the Year of Native Land and the 2nd European Games and was held under the slogan "More than Books". A total of 441 participants took part in the book fair. 164 of them were foreign guests. Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Israel, Poland, China, and Greece were this year's newcomers. Representatives of 37 countries took part in the book fair. They showcased new publications, discussed the results of the previous year, talked over the problems of the book industry and shared their experience.
Russia was a special guest at the Minsk Book Fair 2019. Its stand occupied 200 square meters and featured an eventful program with the participation of popular Russian poets and writers.
“We are a regular participant in the Minsk book fair. It is always an honor for us. It is great to have an opportunity to present our book publishing and learn about its development in other countries. The Belarusian reader is a reader who loves books, who is both a traditionalist who needs classics, and is also keenly interested in what is going on in Russia today,” said manager of the publishing house Vremya Dmitry Gasin.
The program of the Minsk Book Fair comprised the awards ceremony for the winners of the national competition Art of the Book, and also a summary of the results of a number of nationwide contests and projects. The 5th international symposium of writers welcomed more than 50 writers from 25 countries. This year's book forum also featured the Food Week.
The Minsk Book Fair kicked off the international calendar of book forums. Belarus will next take part in the Vilnius Book Fair which is scheduled for 21-24 February.
The 26th Minsk International Book Fair was held under the slogan "More Than Books" from 6 to 10 February. Its main venue was the exposition complex at 14 Pobediteley Avenue. The Minsk International Book Fair featured over 400 exhibitors from 37 countries. The organizers of the Minsk International Book Fair were the Information Ministry, the Minsk City Hall and the Belarusian Union of Writers. Co-organizers were the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Education Ministry, the Culture Ministry, Belkniga and Makbel book selling companies.
