Moscow International Book Exhibition Fair closing

The 16th Moscow International Book Exhibition Fair is rounding off on Monday. Throughout a week over 2,600 participants, representing publishing, printing and computer firms, educational institutions, libraries, cultural centres and foundations from 82 countries, including those of the CIS, have displayed their products.

More than 700 expositions were put up in two pavilions of the Russian Exposition Centre within the area of 25,000 square metres. Editions for professional education and joint expositions of Russia's regional and national editions were exhibited at the fair. An extensive programme for children was prepared to foster interest in literature among the rising generation.

Emphasis was laid on the foreign programme. In spite of the world's trend for interactive communication, the exhibition was attended by delegations from Germany, Poland, China, Belarus, Macedonia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania and Egypt.

Summing up the results of an open Russian-wide competition, the Book of the Year-2003, was in the spotlight of the 16th Moscow International Book Fair. The 1st prize was won by the Russian State Museum with its edition "St. Petersburg. The Portrait of the City and its Dwellers."