31st International Book Fair started in Minsk

The main literary forum of the year has begun in Minsk. Traditionally, the event brings together representatives of publishing houses, domestic and foreign writers and, of course, reading enthusiasts from all over the country. As always, the best projects will be awarded, and fresh book novelties will be presented at the exhibition. Belarus’ Information Minister Vladimir Pertsov spoke at the opening ceremony.

A high-quality, colourful, informative book is the demand of modern society. Vladimir Pertsov believes that Belarusian publishing houses strictly adhere to high quality standards, “In the era of aggressive marketing, sometimes publishers and printers save money on paper, making it a little thinner. However, most book lovers prefer to add books that meet the highest standards to their personal library. Our country actively produces such editions.”

Speaking of quality, it is important to emphasise the decent quantitative indicators achieved by Belarusian publishers. Vladimir Pertsov gave the example of 2023, “We have increased the average circulation per edition from 2,350 to 2,500 copies. This means that we identify and correctly find the structure of the reader's genre preferences. If earlier, 500-1,000 copies were considered a good result, now the demand is higher. The subject of commercial consumption, dime literature, is losing its importance, and serious books become popular, such as the Genocide of the Belarusian People, which has a circulation of 2,000 copies.”

The Minsk International Trade Fair confirms its status as an international one. It is attended by 20 countries, including China, Germany, Brazil, Pakistan, India, Türkiye, and Korea. For the attention of visitors, 114 stands with literature for all tastes.