Most important publishing houses from Romania, Moldova to present over 30,000 book volumes at Bookfest Chisinau International Book Saloon

Chisinau, 29 August /MOLDPRES/ - About 30,000 book volumes will be presented by the most important publishing houses from Romania and Moldova at the sixth edition of the Bookfest Chisinau International Book Saloon. The event will be organized at the Mediacor Centre of the Moldovan State University (USM) during 30 August – 3 September.   

Bookfest Chisinau 2023 is held under the High Patronage of President Maia Sandu and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.   

During five days, in the time interval between 10:00 and 20:00, the publishing houses participating in the event will meet book lovers with the newest editorial bids, with promotion and sales. Visitors will be able to find and look through the nicest books from the current bid of publishing houses, as well as to participate in book launches, literary discussions, workshops and spiritual meetings with beloved writers. Among the outstanding personalities of this edition, there are Cristian Tudor Popescu, Ioana Pârvulescu, Adrian Cioroianu, Radu Paraschivescu, Veronica D. Niculescu, Ștefan Lemny, Cătălin Dorian Florescu, Cristian Mungiu, Radu Vancu, Bogdan Murgescu, Martin Rill, Cristian Manolachi, Liviu Cîmpeanu, Ligia Ruscu, Bogdan Crețu or George Cornilă.     

At a today’s news conference, Culture Minister Sergiu Prodan said that the progress would not be possible in the lack of books. He also said that the books written on paper would never disappear, as they represent one of the most important discoveries of the mankind and the most impressive way of preserving  and conveying information to the next generations. ‘’The attention to books, unfortunately, is affected, and in this respect, support is necessary. Here we are who must intervene, in order to inform about the importance of books and give examples, so that the society takes books, opens and reads them,’’ Sergiu Prodan said. The minister added that, starting from the next year, a programme on translations of Bessarabian authors in other languages and of editing their books in other countries would be launched.      

The director of the National Library of Moldova (BNRM), Elena Pintilei, said that about 90 book launches would be organized at Bookfest. At the same time, following the event, publishing houses from Romania and Moldova donate some of the publications exhibited to BNRM or libraries of Moldova, which thus fill the collection of books in the Romanian language.    

USM Rector, honorary president of Bookfest Igor Sarov said that this was central event in the field of books in Moldova. ‘’Certain perceptions existing in the society, alleging that people do not read in Chisinau, are incorrect. And editors from Romania and Moldova, who sum up the results in the end, say this. The Chisinau city is placed on the one of the first positions in terms of books’ sales, which speaks about a thirst of those who are passionate for books,’’ Igor Sarov said.    

The Bookfest Chisinau International Book Saloon is financed by the Romanian government’s Department for Relation with Moldova. The event also enjoys financial support on behalf of Romania’s Culture Ministry and the Culture Ministry of Moldova. The event’s organizers are the National Library of Moldova, State University of Moldova, Mediacor, Moldova’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Union of Editors from Moldova and the Association of Editors from Romania.  

Bookfest is the most important book saloon of Romania and the only event of the editorial industry, which has managed to acquire an outstanding international dimension. The first issue of Bookfest Chisinau was organized in 2016.