Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) – We need to bolster the ties between Belarusian and British publishers, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Belarus Fionna Gibb said at the roundtable Belarus-Britain. Opportunities for Publishing Business, BelTA has learned.

I am happy that we are having such a meeting that has brought together representatives of the publishing industries of the two countries. Our goal is to promote English and encourage interest in learning it, to promote English literature and British education. There are books of British publishing houses in Belarus, but not as many as we would like to see. Our discussion is aimed at searching for new areas of cooperation. We need to develop links between publishers, Ambassador Fionna Gibb said.

The United Kingdom is the Guest of Honor at the 24th Minsk International Book Fair, which is running from 8 to 12 February. The UK Embassy has scheduled seminars, roundtables, meetings, lectures, presentations, competitions and master classes.

Belarus’ First Deputy Information Minister Igor Lutsky pointed out that the UK stand draws great interest from Minsk book fair visitors. “I am sure that the fair will serve as a bridge for strengthening the relations, including between publishers. Belarusian readers have long been acquainted with English literature. Many works of English authors are included in school curricula; contemporary literature is also popular. Today's meeting will help intensify the ties between the two countries’ publishers,” Igor Lutsky said.

Belarus-Britain. Opportunities for Publishing Business gathered representatives of Belarusian state and private publishers, the UK Publishers Association, Belarus’ Education Ministry, the Customs Committee, the National Library, bookshops. The experts discussed the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation, outlined the problems of publishing business, the ways of promoting English literature and Belarusian products on the European market.