Congratulations, Bangkok!
Bangkok, Thailand, Elected World Book Capital 2013

Geneva – 29 June 2011 - For Immediate Release

Bangkok was named as the “World Book Capital 2013” at the conclusion of the selection committee meeting, which was held on 27 June 2011 at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters. The city of Bangkok was selected “on account of its willingness to bring together all the various stakeholders of the book chain and beyond, for its community focused programme and the high level of commitment through the proposed activities”.

The selection committee included representatives of the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Booksellers Federation (IBF), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), and UNESCO.

Says IPA Secretary General Jens Bammel: “IPA is impressed by the application file submitted by Bangkok. Our Thai member, the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), has for many years been patiently supporting a candidacy and worked hard to bring different stakeholders together. The Bangkok Reading Group (www.bangkokreadforlife.com) brings together 500 stakeholders from the book chain and beyond (e.g.: Bangkok Stock Exchange). Bangkok had already applied to become a World Book Capital four years ago. This year it has stepped up to submit a clear, exciting, and ambitious programme for 2013. Congratulations Bangkok!”.

Jens added: “This application includes a number of interesting ideas and initiatives and relies on a high level of commitment. The premises of the (old) city hall will be renovated into a city library and museum. A new museum of Thai cartoons will be launched. IPA is also thrilled that Bangkok has offered to host the 2014 IPA Publishers Conference. We are very much looking forward to working with the various Thai stakeholders, in particular the local publishers and our Thai member PUBAT to contribute to the success of Bangkok, World Book Capital 2013.”

Bangkok, Thailand, is the thirteenth city to be designated World Book Capital, after Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogotá (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), and Yerevan (2012).

 
Note for Editors:
At the initiative of IPA, every year, IPA, IBF, IFLA and UNESCO designate a city as World Book Capital for the 12 months between two celebrations of World Book and Copyright Day (23 April). This initiative is a collaborative effort between representatives of principal stakeholders in the book sector and the cities which have committed themselves to promote books and reading. The current World Book Capital is Buenos Aires, Argentina. The next World Book Capital will be Yerevan, Armenia.

  
For more information, please go to: 
www.internationalpublishers.org/index.php/literacy-a-reading/world-book-capital-cities or:
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24019&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

More about IPA:

The International Publishers Association (IPA) is an international industry federation representing all aspects of book and journal publishing. Established in 1896, IPA's mission is to promote and protect publishing and to raise awareness for publishing as a force for economic, cultural and political development. Around the world IPA actively fights against censorship and promotes copyright, literacy and freedom to publish. IPA is a trade association with a human rights mandate.