Welcome from British Ambassador Dominic Asquith
Culture and commerce have characterised many of the exchanges between Egypt and Britain over the years. What is rarer is for the two so closely to overlap. The United Kingdom is delighted to have been invited as guest of honour at this year’s Cairo International Book Fair, where the business of publishing will be as much of a feature as the cultural debates between intellectuals, writers, scientists and the reading public. Some of Britain’s top writers – novelists, poets and children’s authors – will be at the fair to take part in events with their Egyptian counterparts. They will be joined by scientists, musicians and actors to complete a programme of cultural events, managed by the British Council, which we hope will fire everyone’s imagination.
Culture and trade also came together at last year’s London Book Fair. On that occasion many of the leading writers and publishers from the Arab World met their British counterparts – some for the first time and some continuing longstanding relationships - and got down to business. A large number of the delegation was from Egypt so the Cairo International Book Fair is a wonderful chance to renew these friendships and make the most of the opportunities offered by the one of the biggest cultural festivals in the world. A delegation of UK publishers – led by The London Book Fair, The Publishers Association and The Independent Publishers’ Guild – eager to learn about Egypt, will be meeting local and regional publishers and looking for the next Yacoubian Building.
Writers may write and publisher may publish, but both activities are pointless unless they find readers. So an important part of our cultural programme will focus on encouraging reading for everyone, whatever their age. A one-day conference will discuss ways of developing reading habits in children that will stay with them their whole lives and fun activities at the book fair itself will put it all into practice.
I hope you will find something to interest you at the fair and that you will visit more than once. Do take some time to visit the UK guest of honour stand and participate in our events. You will find a warm welcome from an old friend.
Date: 22 January-5 February
Location: Cairo International Book Fair, Salah Salem Street
Click for more information on the full programm in English and Arabic also here is information on all the attending speakers' biographies
The Independent Publishers’ Guild
The London Book Fair
The Publishers Association
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