The relocation of the International Book and Publishing Fair from Casablanca to Rabat was well received by a large number of exhibitors and the public alike, but readers recorded a decline in the demand for books for this edition, due to the coinciding of the period of the fair with the end-of-year exams and the decline in purchasing power in light of the record inflation rates in the past few months.
The 28th edition of the International Publishing and Book Fair began in Rabat in early June and ends on Sunday, and witnessed the participation of 737 exhibitors from 51 countries and the Canadian state of Quebec hosting a guest of honor.
The international publishing book fair dedicates a stand to the Royale Institute of Amazigh Culture, a stand that offers a rich variety of books in Amazigh, but also in French Arabic, and English. pic.twitter.com/DfnqXJ5OIY
— Salon International de l'Edition et du Livre (@sielmaroc) June 10, 2023
"I participated several times in the Casablanca fair, and I participated in the 27th edition of the fair in Rabat, and this session, the turnout is average this year compared to last year, because the exhibition coincided with the certification exams (baccalaureate and university exams)," Benaoud Mohamed Rabie, director of a Moroccan publishing house and adviser to the Moroccan Publishers Union, told Reuters.
"The organisation is tight, especially in terms of cleanliness and security, the turnout of exhibitors from outside Morocco and the attendance of Arab, African and European publishing houses," he added, noting that "the books that are most popular are academic books and children's books".
Inflation
Moroccan exhibitor Mohamed Bahbouh, who participated more than 12 times in previous editions of the International Book Fair in Morocco, said that "moving the fair to Rabat is an added value, and it was necessary to break with the Casablanca fair, which was plunging year after year into randomness and chaos."
"There is a decline in attendance compared to the previous edition because the exhibition period coincides with the end-of-year exams and because of the financial constraints of Moroccans, as this is a year of high prices and inflation and casts a shadow on the demand of Moroccans for books and reflects on the purchasing power of researchers," Bahbouh told Reuters.
The Children's Space hosts several activities that combine fun and learning, on the theme "My country, Morocco!" to discover together in this video.
Le pavillon Enfant propose diverses activités ludiques et éducatives au profit de vos enfants autour du thème "Mon Maroc". Découvrons ensemble ces activités dans cette vidéo. pic.twitter.com/gDRJATTw0i
— Salon International de l'Edition et du Livre (@sielmaroc) June 10, 2023
Inflation in Morocco has hit unprecedented levels in the past few months, at the end of February, for example, at 10.1%.
The central bank raised interest rates three times from September last year to March in an effort to contain inflation.
Fatima Ouami, a French teacher at a private school on the outskirts of Rabat, said, "In fact, we wait for occasions like these to buy rare books, which we don't always find in libraries, but unfortunately the prices are expensive and not affordable."
An employee who identified himself as Ahmed said, "I came with my children to buy them books that I may love in reading, perhaps the prices of books are normal, but what we went through from the high prices before, during and after Ramadan month as we approach Eid al-Adha makes my budget limited, which forced me to conclude an agreement with them in advance not to exceed a specific budget for the acquisition of booklets."
However, statistics from the Moroccan Ministry of Culture showed that during the first four days of this edition, the exhibition received 62,8 visitors, an increase of <>% compared to the same period last year.
Exhibition officials could not be reached for comment on declining book demand, according to several exhibitors.
Demand for English Books
In the past two weeks, the Moroccan government announced a decision to universalize the teaching of English at the lower secondary level from the next academic year, in a move aimed at strengthening its presence in Moroccan education after French dominated academic education in the country for decades.
https://t.co/XmqFhpZ6Xi one of the distinguished stands hosted in this edition of the book fair, they display a very large collection of English books and attract visitors from every age range. pic.twitter.com/hqIlz75tl8
— Salon International de l'Edition et du Livre (@sielmaroc) June 9, 2023
Exhibitors recorded an increasing demand for English books in this course, especially academic and children's books.
Moroccan exhibitor Othman al-Iraqi, founder of a website specializing in English books, said, "There is an increasing demand for English books, I have always bet on books in English despite some opinions that say that Moroccans are attached to French culture."
"Organising the exhibition in Rabat is better than Casablanca by all standards, but organising it at the time of exams has caused a lack of turnout," he added.
Haitham Gomaa from Egypt said: "I have been coming to the book fair in Morocco since it was in Casablanca, the turnout was higher, perhaps because it has a larger population than Rabat."
"In general, there is a good demand for children's books, whether natural or people with special needs, as our publishing house works on books for this category of children," he said.
Abderrahman Khalaf, director of rights and marketing at a Saudi publishing house, expressed his admiration for the exhibition and its organisation, telling Reuters, "The exhibition has a good turnout, and my observation is that Moroccans are not ordinary readers, but qualitative readers."
"We have books on philosophy, history, literature, psychology and sociology, and the Moroccan reader looks closely and asks, and this is proof of awareness," Khalaf added.
"The exhibition is promising and encourages us to continue and participate in the coming days," he said.