Lebanese Culture Minister: Consolidating Book Fairs Essential to Tackle Publishing Sector Challenges

Beirut, Oct 2 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh stressed on Friday that unifying book fairs in Lebanon is a “fundamental and prerequisite condition” to confront the severe challenges currently facing the publishing and printing sector. He made these remarks during a press conference held at the National Library to launch the events of the 67th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, scheduled to take place from October 9 to 18 under the patronage of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Salameh noted that “rapid technological developments have shifted new generations from traditional, long-form paper reading to a different pattern based on fragmented, short, and digitized reading, which has in turn affected readers’ concentration, though this does not imply a complete decline in the act of reading itself.”

He pointed to the complex crises facing Lebanese publishers, starting with the financial collapse that has persisted since 2019, which has sharply reduced citizens’ purchasing power, to the spread of piracy and the small size of the local market, which necessitates seeking external outlets amid fierce competition.

The Lebanese Minister of Culture revealed that his ministry is working on a package of measures and initiatives to mitigate obstacles facing publishers in Lebanon, including implementing a project to digitize the contents of the National Library and rehabilitating approximately 57 public libraries across various regions through a dedicated grant.

He clarified that the ministry has coordinated its steps with the Ministry of Justice to pursue crimes related to book piracy and apply the law against violators, alongside intensifying official Lebanese representation at international and regional fairs to restore the presence of local publishing.

He expressed pride in the consensus and coordination that led to a partnership between the Arab Cultural Club, the Publishers Union Syndicate, and the French side to organize a bilateral event that ends the duplication of fairs and consolidates efforts under a single umbrella.

For her part, Salwa al-Sniour, president of the Arab Cultural Club, announced the details of the upcoming 67th edition of the Beirut Arab International Book Fair, which will feature writers, authors, and publishing houses from various Arab countries.

Al-Sniour considered that organizing the Beirut Arab International Book Fair amid the “difficult” conditions in Lebanon and the region sends a message of resilience and affirms that culture is essential for activating awareness, fostering dialogue, and highlighting Beirut’s historic role as a beacon.

She noted that the fair attracts broad participation from over 163 publishing houses, including 23 Arab publishers, and its program includes more than 95 seminars and discussion panels involving around 280 intellectual and literary figures, in addition to honoring prominent cultural and artistic figures, dedicating spaces to youth, and featuring a graphic arts pavilion under the slogan “They Said in Beirut.”

For his part, Nabil Abdul Haqq, president of the Lebanese Publishers Union Syndicate, stated that the fair itself represents a “cornerstone” for unifying energies and enhancing cooperation to support the printing industry, emphasizing the symbolic value of the book as a repository of collective memory and a bridge for national and global communication, despite prevailing economic and professional obstacles.

The Beirut Arab International Book Fair derives its exceptional symbolism as the first book fair in the Arab region since its inception in 1956, cementing Beirut’s historic role as a center of cultural radiance and a incubator for intellectual production and Arab dialogue. (End) F.Z. / R.J.