For its first edition in Rabat, and the 27th in its history, the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), was visited by some 202,089 people.
On his Facebook page, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid noted that this large number “reflects Moroccans’ interest in books and the culture of reading, particularly given the the pandemic situation, the resurgence of cases and the need to comply with preventive measures”.
“As a result, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication will work to develop a strategy to encourage reading, starting with investing in regional fairs and improving their level, quality and even their content,” he added.
Organized under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI and for the first time in Rabat, in celebration of its proclamation as Cultural Capital of the Islamic World and Capital of African Culture in 2022, SIEL saw the participation of 712 exhibitors representing 55 countries, who offered the public a documentary fund covering all fields of knowledge, a total of 100,000 titles and two million copies.
African literatures were the guest of honor at this 27th edition organized in partnership with the wilaya and region of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and the municipality of Rabat, to highlight the multidimensional links between Moroccan culture and those of brotherly African countries.
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