(Adnkronos) – Italy’s attendance as guest of honour at the Mexico’s Guadalajara international book fair from 28 November to 6 December offers an opportunity to strengthen the Italian publishing industry’s presence in the Spanish-speaking countries of central and South America, foreign ministry Antonio Tajani said on Friday, presenting Italy’s programme for the event.
“Italy’s participation as the Guest of Honor at the Guadalajara International Book Fair represents an important recognition and a strategic opportunity to strengthen the presence of the Italian publishing industry – our country’s leading cultural sector – in the Spanish-speaking Americas,” Tajani said in an address to the presentation at the foreign ministry.
“The promotion of Italian books abroad is a crucial tool of growth diplomacy,” he underlined, noting that Italy’s publishing industry is worth around 3.2 euros annually and employs 70,000 people, making it Europe’s fourth largest and the world’s sixth largest.
“We are doubling funding for this sector in view of the revenue generated by disseminating our values and national identity,” Tajani said, noting that the government is giving “particular attention” to small and medium-sized publishers and to the booming sectors of books for children and teenagers.
“Every translated work helps to highlight our cultural identity and boost our exports. The Fair will serve as an outstanding showcase to present an Italy that combines tradition and innovation and to strengthen cultural and historical ties with Mexico and the entire Latin American region.”
The the number of translation rights sold over the last 20 years has quadrupled to some 8,400 titles in 2024, he said.
Speakers at Friday’s presentation included, amongst others, two writers from the Italian delegation, Olga Campofreda and Viola Ardone, who offered a first glimpse of Italy’s rich literary and cultural programme for the Guadalajara book fair, according to a foreign ministry statement.
The Italian delegation will contain over 60 authors and around 35 publishers, alongside a packed programme of exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, performances, and cultural, academic and gastronomic events that will involve the entire city of Guadalajara, according to the foreign ministry.
The festival will also feature some of the leading artists on the Italian music scene, the foreign ministry said in an earlier statement that mentioned Mario Biondi, Paolo Fresu and Ada Montellani.
