In statements to the Cuban Television Sunday Newscast, he highlighted as another attraction for the public the nearly 2.4 million printed titles that will be on sale during the event, from February 13 to 23 in different spaces in this capital, and then in the rest of the provinces of the country until March 23.

He pointed out that the Fair does not escape the crisis situation in the world and the difficulties that the country is going through, a situation that is accentuated by the financial, economic and commercial blockade of the United States against the island, which among its damages is the increase in prices of raw materials for printing.

Rodríguez stressed that, despite such challenges, the Cuban government continues to support the Fair, the production of books, continues to subsidize publications and supports the development of Cuban culture.

Regarding the Havana chapter of the largest book and reader festival in the Caribbean nation, he indicated that the participation of authors, editors and booksellers from 40 countries is expected; all the arts will accompany the Fair’s activities, both at the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, its main space, and at the other 18 sub-venues.

He said that this year it will reach neighborhoods, hospitals, study centers, libraries and that the participation of provincial publishers will be essential.

The president of the ICL also pointed out the importance of dedicating the event to South Africa, the third country on the African continent to receive this distinction, preceded by Angola and Algeria.

In this 33rd edition, the researcher and professor Francisca López Civeria, winner of the 2008 National History Prize and the 2022 National Prize for Social and Humanistic Sciences, and the poet, essayist, researcher and literary critic Virgilio López Lemus will be honored.

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