Press Conference to introduce the Programs by Italy as the Guest of Honor in the 30th Tehran International Book Fair

1395/09/29-14:08

A Press Conference was held on Dec. 18, 2016, in the Conference Hall of the ICFI attended by Dr. Amir Massoud Shahramnia (Managing Director of the ICFI), Mauro Conciatori (Italian Ambassador in Iran), and  Carlo Cereti (Italian Cultural Attaché in Iran)

Mr. Shahramnia explained how the guest of honor for the 30th TIBF was chosen. He said, “Before the 29th TIBF was held, Italy was chosen as the guest of honor for the 30th TIBF by the Policy Council of the TIBF. In this regard, the initial negotiations for stand exchange and keeping track of Italy’s programs were commenced. Three weeks ago a workgroup was formed which consisted of six executives of the Italian stand in the TIBF. They have discussed the matters with related managers from the Islam Guidance Ministry as well as managers from the Shahre Aftab to do the necessary planning.”

Then Mr. Mauro Conciatori the Italian Ambassador, said, “It is very important for us to have been considered as the guest of honor in the TIBF. I should remind that both Iranian and Italian higher authorities defined a roadmap on Jan. 24, 2016 in which the cultural collaboration had a pivotal role. Dario Franceschini, the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, had a journey to Iran in Sep. 2015 and officially accepted the Islamic Republic of Iran’s invitation to the event. Since then, a coordination committee was formed in Italy to plan for attending the TIBF as the guest of honor in 2017.”  The ambassador also added that the event would promote collaboration between the Iranian and Italian publishers. Then he pointed out to an Italian-Iranian logo to be used in every program and event. In the end, he presented a description of the programs supposed to be held until the book fair itself.

Regarding the programs simultaneous with the book fair, Conciatori said, “Italy will participate as the guest of honor in an area of 300 sq. meters. One part of this area will be dedicated to Italian titles while in another part the translated titles will be showcased. Also, a saloon will be allocated to the meetings between Iranian and Italian cultural figures. A separate space will be considered for the meetings between publishers from both countries to discuss the commercial issues relating to book trading. In this regard, fifteen persons among Italian writers, poets, children writers and illustrators will be invited to participate in the event to have discourse with their Iranian counterparts.”