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Monday 17 February 2020

Nearly Half Million Visitors in SIEL, Official

Vocal synthesis
Nearly Half Million Visitors in SIEL, Official

Nearly half a million people visited the International Book Fair (SIEL), which is in its 26th edition (February 06-16), said, on Sunday in Casablanca, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, government spokesperson, El Hassan Abyaba.

About half a million visitors, from all ages, visited this fair organized by the ministry under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, who offers his solicitude to intellectuals, writers, editors and all stakeholders in this field, said Abyaba at a press conference on the results of this SIEL edition.

Since its opening chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, this edition was attended by more than 15 foreign diplomatic delegations, he said, stressing that this event was an opportunity to enrich the regional and international cultural dialogue and to strengthen cultural diplomacy, which is one of the fair's objectives.

The Minister welcomed the distinguished presence of Mauritania, "a neighboring country and a dear friend", and guest of honor of this edition.

Abyaba stressed the participation of 266 institutions in this event, including 8 constitutional bodies, 6 ministries, 3 public institutions, 7 universities, 12 embassies and foreign representations and 230 exhibitors from Morocco, the Arab world, Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

This edition was marked by the exhibition of more than 120,000 books and the organization of 120 cultural activities as part of the cultural program of the Ministry of Culture in which 380 speakers participated, including 70 foreigners, and more than 1,000 activities were held by publishing houses and other institutions, he added.

The programming dedicated to children was marked by 80 activities organized by more than 60 executives, including artists, sportsmen and media personalities, he said.

MAP 16 February 2020