The 12th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, bringing together writers, publishers and cultural representatives from 30 countries to promote literature and international cultural exchange.
Organised by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, the seven-day event began on 21 October, with an opening ceremony attended by members of parliament, government officials, literary figures and international guests.
Held under the slogan “Life Is Bigger Than a Screen: One Child, One Book, One Real World”, this year’s fair aims to encourage reading, particularly among younger generations, and highlight the importance of books in an increasingly digital world.
From philosophy and science to fiction, educational literature and children’s books, the exhibition offers visitors a wide variety of genres and an opportunity to discover literature from different cultures.
Beyond showcasing books, the fair serves as a platform for international cultural exchange, allowing participating countries to introduce their literary traditions and cultural heritage to Azerbaijani audiences.
Saudi Arabia is among the 30 countries represented at the event, with a pavilion featuring publications about the Two Holy Mosques, books published by the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex and works exploring the Kingdom’s history.
“Saudi Arabia’s participation in the fair is an important opportunity to introduce Azerbaijani audiences to the Kingdom’s culture and strengthen cultural exchange between the two countries,” Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Essam bin Saleh Al-Jutaili, told AnewZ.
Portugal is also participating in the exhibition as it prepares to open its embassy in Baku.
“This is very important for us as we are opening our embassy in Baku. This is our first cultural initiative, and we have prepared this stand with a diverse selection of books, including Azerbaijani translations,” said Portugal’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Jaime Van Zeller, told AnewZ in an interview.
“We have translated a very famous Portuguese book into Azerbaijani to share our culture with the people of Azerbaijan,” he added.
Georgia, meanwhile, has returned to the fair for a second year, expanding its selection of publications.
“This is our second time participating in the Baku Book Fair. Compared with last year, we have brought more books, including Azerbaijani translations of Georgian literature,” said Ketevan Dumbadze, Chairperson of the Writers’ House of Georgia.
The fair’s programme features prominent Azerbaijani writers and poets, emerging authors and international literary figures from countries including Türkiye, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
Visitors can attend book presentations, discussions on contemporary issues and masterclasses for both children and adults.
The exhibition also provides an opportunity for publishers and authors to establish international connections, exchange ideas and introduce their works to new audiences through translations.
The 12th Baku International Book Fair runs until 27 October at the Baku Expo Center, offering literature enthusiasts a chance to explore stories, perspectives and cultures from around the world.
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