The Republic of Moldova will be the guest of honor at the Bookfest 2024 edition that will be held in Bucharest, Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan stated after Maia Sandu announced that the Bookfest 2024 edition will take place under the High Patronage of the Presidents of Romania and Moldova. The minister noted that in order to promote Moldovan authors abroad, the Government aims to financially support foreign publishing houses that accept to translate and edit works of authors from the Republic of Moldova.
According to the official, the decision by the Presidents of Romania and Moldova to patronize the largest book fair in Romania, Bookfest, is a proof of the fact that culture in both of the states is a priority and a part of political activity. At Bookfest Bucharest 2024, the most important publishing houses of Moldova will promote their works.
“My viewpoint is that not a prosperous society produces high-value cultural products, but, conversely, a cultured society can produce prosperity. This year, unlike the previous years, when Bookfest Romania came to Chisinau and this book fair took place here, this year the Republic of Moldova is the guest of honor at Bookfest Romania. The Republic of Moldova will be the main character around which the Bookfest in Bucharest will take place. We will prepare for this and will not just come up with a book stand. Our editors distinguished themselves not only in Romania, but also in Europe. The book published in Chisinau is found and sold in European countries. For now, we speak not about books in the Romanian language, but about translated books,” Sergiu Prodan stated in the program “Common Objective” on TVR Moldova channel.
The minister noted that to promote the works of Moldovan authors internationally, the state will finance their translation into foreign languages, as well as their publication abroad.
“This year, the Ministry of Culture has a new chapter of financial support, namely the publication of works of our authors abroad. We will financially support foreign publishers that will decide to translate into the language of that country and edit works of authors from the Republic of Moldova. We will work out regulations that will stipulate the eligible costs. We will finance the translation itself, the layout. It goes to the financing of certain segments so that publishers abroad are interested and the financial burden is lower on them so that they promote our authors. We will support this process,” said Sergiu Prodan.
According to an approved draft law, any foreign publishing house that intends to translate and publish works of an author from Moldova will be able to take part in a contest to obtain financial support from the state.
