English 
Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, participated this afternoon in the inauguration of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Book Fair 19th edition, which will be held from July 15 to 28, 2024, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Culture, Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled, Governor of Alexandria, Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Dr. Hesham Abdelaziz, Head of the Religious Sector, on behalf of the Minister of Endowments, Dr. Hind Hanafi, former President of Alexandria University, as well as ambassadors and consuls of Arab and foreign countries, intellectuals and members of the civil society.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Konsowa explained the keenness of Alexandria University to cooperate with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in reviving the cultural role of the city of Alexandria, which represents a model of multiculturalism and civilization, pointing out the importance of motivating students and youth to read and learn to build an aware and educated generation capable of effective participation in building the new republic.
In his speech, Dr. Ahmed Hanno praised the role of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Book Fair in establishing a distinguished cultural movement between various publishing houses, intellectuals, and Alexandrian youth as an extension of Egypt's enlightening role and consolidating Egypt's cultural leadership, stressing the participation of the Ministry of Culture in the exhibition's activities through the Egyptian General Book Authority.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled stressed Alexandria Governorate's support for all cultural activities in the governorate, believing in the importance of culture in spreading awareness and enhancing the concept of loyalty and belonging among young people, praising the role of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as a cultural and civilizational meeting place between the East and the West, and its role as an integrated scientific and cultural edifice, stressing President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's support for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as a forum for intellectuals to communicate and a cultural window for Alexandrian youth.
Dr. Ahmed Zayed announced that the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is launching the Alexandria Reading Award this year to encourage young people to read, in addition to a poetry forum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and screening a group of cultural films for young people under the title (Aref) “Knowing”. He added that the 19th edition of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Book Fair includes about 160 cultural events with the presence of 600 cultural figures and the participation of 77 publishers. The events vary in their themes between history and literature, Egyptian drama, writing in all its arts, media, youth, women, children, publishing, Egypt between history and literature, artificial intelligence and industrial creative content, awards and creators, Egyptian cultural relations, and meetings with prominent figures.
During the Book Fair period, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina offers a variety of activities and practical workshops that aim to enhance interaction and effective participation from the public, with a focus on contemporary cultural and social issues, and to enhance the role of Alexandria as a leading city in the cultural and artistic fields, in addition to a variety of activities.
