Rabat – The 27th International Book and Print Fair (SIEL) attracted over 202,000 visitors, according to Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mehdi Bensaid.
SIEL, which kicked off on June 2, ended on Sunday and saw the participation of 712 exhibitors representing 55 countries, with a documentary collection of a total of 100 thousand titles and two million copies covering all disciplines.
Bensaid said that the significant number of people visiting SIEL “reflects the interest of Moroccans in books and the culture of reading, especially given the pandemic situation, the resurgence of cases and the need to comply with preventive measures.”
The official further unveiled the ministry’s plan to develop a strategy to encourage reading, “starting by investing in regional fairs and improving their level, quality and even content.”
Held exceptionally in Rabat this year, the SIEL also comes to celebrate the city’s designation as the Islamic World cultural capital for 2022.
Eminent personalities from the cultural, political, and economic sectors took part in this year’s edition, with African literature being in the spotlight as it is in line with King Mohammed VI’s vision to promote south-south cooperation and Morocco’s African cultural heritage and values.
Some 380 speakers took part in conferences, round tables, presentations of new publications and poetic evenings organized as part of the international book fair.
In addition to this year’s Ibn Battouta Prize for Travel Literature, the National Reading Prize, and the Most Accessible Stand Award, the organizers paid tribute to Moroccan writers who passed away in the past two years of the pandemic.
Children also benefited from several activities, literary, artistic, and scientific workshops.
Initially established in Rabat with an investment of MAD 12 million ($1.2 million) granted by Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, SIEL costed an additional MAD 8 million ($807,306), provided by the Council of the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region.
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