Morocco earmarks us$ 2 million to promote publishing, reading

Minister of culture, Mohammed Achaari, announced that his department earmarked 20 million Dirhams (US$ 2 million) to promote publishing and reading in Morocco.

An amount of $1.7 million will be used to reinforce reading spaces, and the remaining $0.3 million to support publishing houses, Achaari said at a meeting held here Wednesday with professionals of the sector on the world book and copyright day (April 23).

These measures are part of the department's policy to encourage publishing and promote reading, he said, adding that the bi-annual international book fair, will become an annual event and will be held in February.

Reading should be seen as a national priority as important as fighting literacy or poverty, the minister said, adding that his department is elaborating a program to upgrade a number of libraries and provide new forms of support to young entrepreneurs in the field.