The 27th edition of the Algiers International Book Fair, held under the theme "We Read to Win," concluded Saturday, with Qatar being the guest of honor this year.
The Ministry of Culture won the award for best pavilion at the fair, receiving special recognition from Algeria's Minister of Culture, Dr. Soraya Mouloudji, who praised the pavilion for its unique features and the valuable addition it brought to the exhibition.
The Ministry's pavilion stood out for attracting a large number of visitors, with a distinctive design that reflected the interaction between contemporary culture, cultural developments, and creative innovation, while also embodying Qatar's rich cultural heritage.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Abdel Karim Saad Al Hamidi, supervisor of the Ministry of Culture's pavilion, said that the visitors to the fair, particularly the Algerian public, expressed great admiration and interacted enthusiastically with the seminars and lectures led by Qatari writers, authors, and academics. These covered a wide range of topics, showcasing the richness of Qatari culture.
Al Hamidi added, "We were deeply impressed by the overwhelming reception from the Algerian audience, who welcomed us warmly. We could feel their significant interest in Qatari culture through the hundreds of questions asked daily, as well as the positive feedback we continually received about the lectures and seminars we organized."
In addition, the closing ceremony of the fair honored the winners of the "My First Book" award, a new initiative aimed exclusively at children this year, encouraging them to develop a love for reading, research, and discovery, and to nurture future writers and authors.
This year's edition of the fair featured nearly 1,007 participants from 40 Arab and foreign countries, including 290 local exhibitors. The event also welcomed 350 guests from 24 countries as part of a comprehensive cultural program that included seminars, dialogues, and meetings. A dedicated children's program was also organized, offering educational, artistic, and recreational activities such as theater, painting workshops, and competitions
