President of the Cuban Book Institute (ICL) Suleica Romay said in the closing of the event at the San Carlos de la Cabaña fortress that the number of books sold totaled more than 700,000. She said the figure was quite impressive taking into account that the new issues presented in the literary event had been available in many libraries across the city since October 2010.

Romay commended the intense and varied scientific, literary and cultural program developed during the 11 days of the event in the Fair’s traditional venue and other 10 scattered across the Cuban capital.

The International Book Fair will start between February 23 and 27 in Pinar del Rio, Isle of Youth, Matanzas and Sancti Spiritus, and later it will be inaugurated in the eastern provinces to wrap up March 6.

A jury presided over by writer Reinaldo Gonzalez granted the first Best Stands prize to the Ediciones Union publishing house in the category of Modular Stand; the second to Ediciones Vigia and the third to Casa Editora Capitan San Luis.

Among Non-Modular Stands, the Cuban Radio and Television Institute won the first place, while considering both categories, the jury granted a honorific mention to the exhibition of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).

The closing ceremony was attended by Homero Acosta, Deputy Culture Minister; and Brazilian writer and theologist Frei Betto, among other personalities.