Monday, 25 May 2026
Venezuela launches 21st International Book Fair with Egypt as guest of honor
Caracas – Venezuela inaugurated the 21st edition of the Venezuela International Book Fair (FILVEN 2025) with a grand opening ceremony led by President Nicolás Maduro.
This year’s fair, running until July 13, features Egypt as the Guest of Honor in celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Caracas and Cairo, dating back to November 1950.
The prestigious event brings together delegations from 18 countries, including Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, China, Turkey, and Egypt.
The Egyptian delegation, led by Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, includes distinguished writers, publishers, intellectuals, and senior officials. The program also showcases works by Venezuelan authors translated into Arabic, reflecting the spirit of cultural exchange between the two nations.
During the opening ceremony, President Maduro welcomed the "brotherly delegation from Egypt," headed by Dr. Hanno, and extended a special greeting to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
President Maduro highlighted the deep ties and mutual admiration between Venezuela and Egypt, stating, “We are in constant communication, always reaffirming our mutual respect and admiration at every international gathering. Egypt honors Venezuela’s history, and we express our admiration for that nation which has contributed so much to humanity.”
President Maduro also emphasized the diversity of this year’s fair, noting the wide array of countries and cultural offerings participating in FILVEN 2025.
For his part, Egyptian Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno expressed great pride in Egypt being chosen as the Guest of Honor.
Conveying greetings from President El-Sisi, Dr. Hanno said, “It is a great honor for Egypt to be the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Venezuela International Book Fair. We aim for our participation to reflect the richness and diversity of our culture, and we look forward to forging fruitful partnerships that benefit both our peoples.”
He added that the Egyptian Ministry of Culture has organized a diverse program for the fair—featuring cultural seminars, artistic performances, and a collection of Egyptian publications translated into several languages—to familiarize the Venezuelan public with Egypt’s vibrant and storied cultural heritage.
Venezuelan Minister of Culture Ernesto Villegas noted in his remarks that this year’s fair not only celebrates Egypt as the Guest of Honor but also pays tribute to the “Special Guest State,” Guayana Esequiba—a region claimed by Caracas as Venezuela’s 24th state.
This edition of FILVEN promises to be a unique celebration of intercultural dialogue, literary exchange, and international friendship, further strengthening the bonds between Venezuela, Egypt, and the world.