Santiago de Cuba.— The International Book Fair, the largest cultural event on the island, closed its 33rd edition, as is tradition, in this city, after recognizing "all those who made it possible (...) the Republic of South Africa and the more than 400 foreign representatives, a record number that shows the security and confidence that Cuba inspires (...), and the respect for diversity, with the realization of more than 6,300 artistic and literary activities."
This was emphasized by the president of the Cuban Book Institute (ICL, in Spanish), Juan Rodríguez Cabrera, in the emblematic Stained Glass Hall of the Antonio Maceo Grajales Revolution Square. It was also reported that more than 1,300 publishing novelties were presented, "and some 2,400,000 physical books were sold -of which 510,000 copies were sold at prices subsidized by the State-, more than 3,000 in digital format, and the estimated attendance amounted to 900,000 people."
Rodríguez Cabrera also praised that, in its 25 years, "the system of territorial publishing imprints has made five million copies available to the reading public."
On the occasion, the Key to the City of Santiago de Cuba was given to the outstanding intellectual Francisca López Civeira, and the recognition of Distinguished Visitor to Virgilio López Lemus -to whom this 33rd edition was dedicated-, granted by the Municipal Assembly of People's Power; as well as the recognition With the Effort of All We Will Overcome, from the Provincial Government, to the publishing house Ediciones Santiago.
Before the first secretary of the Party in the province, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia; the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso Grau; other political, governmental and cultural leaders, artists and writers, it was announced that the 34th edition of the Fair will be dedicated to the centenary of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, "who left us his imperishable work and his example."
