Abdul Wahab Al-Radi, Head of the Publishers Union and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Baghdad International Book Fair, said the current edition has achieved remarkable success, recording unprecedented public attendance in the fair’s history.

He noted that the fair also received distinguished official attendance, including representatives of Iraq’s three presidencies, as well as a large number of ministers, parliamentarians, and prominent political and social figures.

According to Al-Radi, the fair has recorded both qualitative and quantitative growth. The number of participating countries increased to 28, compared with 22 in the previous edition, while the number of participating publishing houses reached 615.

The fair’s cultural program featured 10 seminars each day, bringing together a distinguished group of intellectuals and specialists. The program also included interactive activities, including visual art exhibitions and musical performances, as well as the distribution of free coupons to readers.

Al-Radi emphasized that the organizing committee was able to overcome various logistical and organizational challenges through the support of sponsors and partners, along with the collective efforts of the event’s staff, helping deliver a fair worthy of the Iraqi public.

He added that a formal evaluation of the current edition is already underway to develop plans for future expansion, including the potential enlargement of the exhibition space and increased participation by publishing houses and friendly countries.