Despite problems, we’re happy to participate at TIBF again

1393/02/17-15:36

Manager international projects of the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF), Claudia Dobry asserted that the problems of participating at the Tehran international book fair have not discouraged them from attending the 27th TIBF.

In an interview, Ms. Dobry pointed out that the problems of bank transaction and paying to the international publishers existed in the earlier editions of Tehran international book fair and are not something new: “There are also problems of shipping books from Germany to Iran which were partly solved thanks to the assistance of the German Embassy in Tehran.”
But she thinks that compared to last year, the 27th TIBF has been organized better at international department since it has provided a better ground for them to be in contact with the Iranian publishers.
“We have been constantly in contact with the Iranian publishers and German publishers approved to display their works at this year’s edition of the event, moreover, the German stall in Tehran Book Fair is backed by the Federal Foreign Ministry in Berlin.”
Dobry believes that the organizers of Tehran international book fair are already on a right way, but here are some problems that should be resolved.
“The name of the Tehran book fair suggests that it is an international event but all signs have been written in Persian and they are not also catalogs to guide the international visitors. For example I'm not sure whether everybody knows that we are here or not,” she said.
On the differences between TIBF and the Frankfurt Book Fair, the manager stated: “These two events have completely different ideas. The FBF is a trade fair for trade visitors, selling and buying rights, get in contact with booksellers and journalists. The first three days of FBF are reserved for trade visitors, the general public can visit the event simply on the last two days.”
“There is a delivery system in Germany which enables people to receive books within 24 hours throughout the country without referring to the bookshops. But here due to the problems of the distribution system people from various regions attend the event to buy books directly. On the other hand, the German publishing houses are totally private.”
Answering a question on the impact of the new media including e-books on readers and the German experience, Dobry said: “In Germany the percentage of e-books to the entire books are still much less. People still prefer to read normal books, but this situation may change in future.”