The Arab Publishers Union announced on Sunday that the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication in Morocco and those managing the 27th edition of the International Publishing and Book Fair responded to the request to exempt publishers from the rental fees.

The union said in a statement that it had been in contact with the fair’s management for some time and made several demands, including "exempting Arab publishers from the fees for renting the booths."

The union confirmed that the decision "helps the Arab publisher to continue his activity in his industry," pointing out that those working in the Arab publishing industry "are going through difficult financial and professional circumstances due to the Corona pandemic."

The International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat started on June 2 with the participation of 712 publishers from 55 countries and continues until June 12.

The fair is held after a two-year absence due to the conditions of the Corona pandemic, in the Moroccan capital for the first time after it was held in Casablanca throughout the past years.

Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mohamed El Mehdi Ben Saïd stated earlier that the decision to permanently move the fair to Rabat "has not yet been finalized" and will be studied after the end of this edition and its evaluation.