Egypt’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Nevine Al-Kilani, unveiled the details of the 55th Cairo International Book Fair at a press conference last Sunday held in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House.
The annual event will be taking place under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, as well as Dr. Ahmed Bahi El-Din, Head of the Egyptian General Book Authority, and Hilde Klimtsdal, Ambassador of Norway in Cairo.
As always, it will be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center from January 25 to February 6, with the slogan “We create knowledge… We preserve the word” and the participation of The Kingdom of Norway as a guest of honor.
The Minister stated: Today we announce the launch of a distinguished edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, which contributed to building the thought of generations to feel proud of their identity.
She added: From the Opera Square, we launch the 55th edition which I wish to be a milestone in the history of the Book Fair due to the effort we exerted.
Furthermore, the Minister emphasized that the presence of the Kingdom of Norway as this year’s honorary guest is a bridge of communication between Arab culture and Northern European culture, introducing other cultures to Egyptian and Arab society to achieve cultural and creative exchange, creating a sort of interaction between creators and the public, and realizing openness to human cultures.
Kilani went on to thank the President for his generous patronage of the book fair, and the Prime Minister for opening this year’s edition of the book fair, emphasizing Egypt’s civilizational and cultural leadership from ancient times to the present and supporting Cairo International Book Fair as one of the cultural industries’ pillars.
Moreover, the culture minister confirmed that the fair takes place amid the world’s challenges and difficulties, with the participation of 1,200 publishers from all over the world, an increase of 153 publishers from the previous edition, and the participation of 70 countries of various nationalities, which confirms the fair’s chosen slogan.
She further pointed out that the Cairo International Book Fair has a long history, confirming Egyptians’ interest in culture and creators as soft power that aligns with the new republic’s vision of building humanity.
According to Kilani’s statements, writers from Egypt and the Arab world will witness a scene that looks like a large cultural carnival with a rich cultural program, events, and conferences about prominent figures. In addition, Egyptian and Arab thinkers and intellectuals will address a variety of intellectual, social, and national issues related to the new digital world.
