Morocco’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports announced on Monday the postponement of its 27th International Book Fair (SIEL 2021) until further notice due to the spread of COVID-19 and the rise of infections.
The ministry explained that it was not possible to launch the event on the date planed earlier amid the ongoing virus crisis, affirming that the safety of visitors and exhibitors is at the top of its priorities.
On a statement on its website, the ministry explained that the event, which takes place in February each year, has become a meeting that brings together, in a closed space, a large audience of all ages.
The new date for the 27th edition will be unveiled later, the ministry noted.
The exhibition kicked off in 1987 and became a fixed annual event for a great number of readers and authors.
In its past ten editions, more than 700 exhibitors from 45 countries took part in the fair. while the total number of visitors surpassed 400,000 from Casablanca and other cities.
The 26th annual 10-day International Book Fair in Casablanca was launched on February 6, 2020, with a special tribute to Mauritania as the guest of honor.
In addition to exhibits, the event offered visitors seminars, poetic evenings, and presentations of recently-published books. Six government ministers participated in the book fair exhibits as well as 12 embassies and seven universities.
