The Ministry of Culture Thursday postponed the 43rd Cairo International Book Fair from 26 January until 29 January. The ministry delayed the book fair, which will run until 8 February, because more preparation time was needed. The Ministry of Culture announced in December that the book fair would be held in the Cairo International Conference Center in Nasr City instead of at the international fair grounds, which is under construction. The location change will not affect the agenda of cultural and artistic activities, nor will it affect sales as publishers were compensated by the fair's extension through 8 February, said Chairman of the General Book Organization Saber Arab. He pointed out that the fair will coincide with mid-year school vacation, which he said will benefit both visitors and publishers. Arab said the number of participants has reached 631 publishers representing 29 countries, 17 of which are Middle Eastern countries. China will be a guest of honor this year. Arab said the book fair receives more than 2 million visitors each year and is the largest such fair in Africa and the Middle East. The fair will celebrate Egyptians who achieved literary success abroad such as Farouk al-Baz, Hani Azer, and Ahmed Zoweil. It will also commemorate the birthday of Nobel Prize winner and Arab literary icon Naguib Mahfouz.
