Dr. Abdel Aziz Qansua, Egypt's Higher Education Minister and Acting Minister of Culture, chaired the second meeting of the Supreme Committee for the 58th Cairo International Book Fair. The meeting aimed to discuss and review proposals for the upcoming event, ensuring it aligns with Egypt's cultural and historical significance. The 58th edition is expected to be an exceptional event, marking a significant transformation in the organization and digitalization of the book fair.
The meeting reviewed statistical data from the 57th edition to set better goals for the upcoming event. The committee discussed the structure of executive committees, their responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms. These committees include cultural, intellectual, and artistic activities, as well as children's and professional events. The goal is to integrate all activities and ensure a smooth experience for visitors.
The committee also discussed the selection criteria for the book fair's personality and logo, as well as the main intellectual and cultural themes. They emphasized the importance of integrating intellectual, cultural, artistic, and professional activities, along with children's events. The meeting also covered the activation of coordination between the Ministry of Culture and other participating ministries, institutions, and media outlets.
The meeting included a presentation by "E-Finance" on the digital system and unified electronic application to be launched by December 1st. The application will provide intelligent search services, interactive maps, and electronic ticket booking. The committee also discussed adding an artificial intelligence-powered assistant and offline browsing capabilities to the application.
On the organizational side, the meeting reviewed the architectural plan provided by the University of Al-Asmaa's consulting center. The plan aims to improve movement paths, booth spaces, and main corridors within the exhibition halls. The goal is to provide equal opportunities for major and small publishers.
The discussions emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences to make the most of the book fair's digital platform. The committee agreed to hold an expanded coordination meeting with publishers to discuss and integrate their proposals into the application's development. This meeting will ensure that the digital platform meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Dr. Abdel Aziz Qansua concluded the meeting, stressing that the coming phase will witness continuous coordination meetings to monitor progress and address any challenges. The goal is to deliver an exceptional edition of the Cairo International Book Fair that maintains its international reputation.
Key points
- The 58th Cairo International Book Fair is expected to be a landmark event, featuring a digital transformation and organizational development.
- The event aims to provide a unified digital platform for visitors, offering intelligent search services and electronic ticket booking.
- The book fair will prioritize equal opportunities for major and small publishers, with a focus on integrating intellectual, cultural, artistic, and professional activities.
