Press Release

The fallout from the ban on flying in Europe, following the volcanic eruption in Iceland, has hit the London Book Fair (LBF) hard. With serious implications for South African publishers and authors who were travelling to the fair as part of the fair's SA Market Focus.

Cape Town Book Fair Director Claudia Kaiser said it appeared that less than 20% of trade and other South Africans had been able to get to the LBF. "This is very sad, as it means that trade opportunities will be lost for many publishers, both large and small," said Kaiser.

It was reported in the Cape Times on 19 April 2010 that only 13 of the 46 authors scheduled to attend the event had been able to reach London. The fair began today and ends on Wednesday.

The Sunday Times of 18 April 2010 said that the shutdown had "dealt a blow to the local book publishing industry".

Kaiser said it was a loss of opportunity for publishers to trade rights and showcase the South African publishing industry.

"This year the CTBF will be repositioning itself "as a fair with a strong trade element. The fifth anniversary of the CTBF will be a celebration of its success with the public, but it will also be a repositioning of the event to include a strong trade and professional element.

Kaiser said the professional day on 30 July would be open to exhibitors and trade visitors, for example booksellers, librarians, institutional buyers, teachers, school principals among others.  The organisers will present on the spot seminars, e.g. on Rights Trading, Publishing in Africa, Digital publishing, a seminar for booksellers and other subjects.

"The organisers will also present matchmaking seminars for different target groups, one of them being a buyers/sellers meeting. Exhibitors are invited to stage their own professional programmes on that day as well: making the CTBF a place where publishers, booksellers and other trade exhibitors can send their staff to be trained and gain knowledge for free.

"If publishers want to meet potential clients and business partners, they should sign up for the matchmaking sessions - we have had tremendous success with these in the past - and great outcomes for the participants!" said Kaiser.

Other highlights for trade visitors will be the Rights and Business Lounge where participants will be able to conduct meetings in a business-like environment and in privacy. On top of this the CTBF will present an International Collective, where exhibitors from all over the world can register single titles, shelves or panels in order to test the market.

The CTBF opens to the public from the 31 July to the 2^nd of August, and Kaiser said she hoped that the fair would contribute to offsetting some of the damage done to the worldwide publishing industry by the "unfortunate and unforeseen inability of South African publishers and writers to reach the event".