Mohsen Parviz, who also serves as a deputy to Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, told an inaugural ceremony for the ongoing edition of Tehran Book Fair that it was a four consecutive year that the landmark event was staged in Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque, north of Tehran, adding that the edition of fair underwent several problems as the event continued to suffer lack of independent venue and the problems were compounded with several construction works in the mosque premises which led to a shortage of space for the book fair.

 

Parviz expressed hope the event would be staged in a venue of its own in the next editions.

 

He noted that the eastern verandas of the grand mosque had been occupied for construction works, adding that the problem would have grown larger unless the President issued a funded directive for setting up makeshift structures to host publishers.

 

The chief executive said the acclaimed cultural event was paid an annually growing welcome at home and overseas, adding that the book fair event was increasingly gathering momentum despite some adverse efforts inside the country to disrupt or shut down the cultural events.

 

Parviz expressed hope the international event would receive a venue of its own where other cultural events are also hosted.

 

Parviz urged first vice president Mohammad Reza Rahimi, also present in the inaugural ceremony, to put print industry on agenda of government, taking into account a major state policy in the current Iranian year to pay more attention to culture sector and set up a special fund in that regard.

 

He said print industry was paid an undeserved attention, calling on the government to allot a special line of budget in its routine provincial tours by which to renovate printing houses and refurbish the industry.

 

Parviz also spoke of a lack of window display for books adding that it was no longer cost-effective to build book stores and that the problem of poor distribution and lack of book stores would persist unless the government fails to assist the cultural department of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

 

Parviz concluded his remarks by offering thanks to some 47 foundations and bodies which joined a concerted drive in staging of the 23^rd International Tehran Book Fair.