Egypt's Acting Culture Minister, Dr. Abdulaziz Qansua, has stressed that digital transformation and smart solutions are crucial for the development of the Cairo International Book Fair. This statement was made during the second meeting of the Higher Committee for the 58th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair. The committee discussed and reviewed proposals for the upcoming event to ensure it meets Egypt's cultural and civilizational standards.
The 58th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair is considered an exceptional milestone in the event's digital transformation and organizational development. Dr. Qansua noted that efforts this year go beyond addressing current logistical challenges and focus on establishing a sustainable digital and investment infrastructure. This infrastructure will utilize the latest artificial intelligence technologies and smart solutions to serve millions of visitors and facilitate their access to cultural products.
The Egyptian government is committed to protecting the publishing industry and preserving the country's cultural soft power. Dr. Qansua praised the committee's efforts in proposing and discussing initiatives to provide a distinctive educational experience for all societal segments. He also emphasized the importance of creating an event that reflects Egypt's international cultural and civilizational values.
The second meeting of the committee included a comprehensive review of statistical data from the 57th edition. The goal is to achieve better results in the upcoming edition. The meeting also covered the structure of executive committees, their mandates, and coordination mechanisms. These committees include cultural, intellectual, and artistic activities, as well as professional and international events.
The meeting discussed the proposed criteria for selecting the personalities and logos for the 58th edition. It also focused on determining the main intellectual and cultural themes and setting priorities for choosing participants. The aim is to achieve organizational integration between intellectual, cultural, artistic, and professional activities, as well as children's events.
The committee reviewed a presentation by "e-Finance" on launching a digital system and a unified electronic application. This application is expected to be launched by December 1st and will provide smart search services, interactive maps, and electronic ticket booking. The application may also include an AI-powered chatbot and offline browsing capabilities.
The meeting concluded with a decision to hold an expanded coordination meeting with publishers. This meeting will discuss and incorporate their technical proposals into the application's development before its official launch. Dr. Qansua thanked the committee members and emphasized that the upcoming phase will involve continuous coordination meetings to ensure the event's success.
Key points
- Digital transformation and smart solutions are key to the development of the Cairo International Book Fair.
