Over 353,000 Books Sold at Havana International Fair

The visitors to the 27th International Book Fair in Havana bought over 353,000 books, said the head of the organizing committee Juan Rodriguez, as the event with China as the country guest of honor will continue now in other Cuban cities.

In closing the event in the Cuban capital, the president of the Cuban Book Institute added that the figure means an increase of 52,000 over the number sold last year. In all 463 representatives from 43 countries including exhibitors, writers, publisheers and artists participated at the Fair.



Cuban publishing houses offered 4,000 books and 4 million copies at the event that took place in Havana from February 1 through 11. The Fair will continue now in other cities of Cuba until its closure in Santiago de Cuba on May 13.



The Havana stage of the Book Fair included 2,690 literary and artistic events, said Rodriguez at the closing ceremony Sunday at the Nicolas Guillen Hall in the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, a World Heritage of Humanity.



During the events, 100 lectures, 50 literary panels, 200 poetry reading sessions and over 1,000 book presentations took place.



Ten cooperation agreements were signed with the Chinese delegation. Cuba confirmed its participation at the Beijing Book Fair next August.



The Prize to the Best Stand of the 27th Fair was shared by Panama's International Aurelia Publishing House and Boloña Ediciones, of Cuba.