The activity scheduled to be the closing ceremony of the Book Fair served as an opportunity to formally invite Brazil to be the Guest of Honor at next year’s 12th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2009. Presiding over the ceremony was Minister of Culture José Rafael Lantigua who added that this year’s Book Fair was attracting 15,000 people daily.

The activity scheduled to be the closing ceremony of the Book Fair served as an opportunity to formally invite Brazil to be the Guest of Honor at next year’s 12th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2009.

Mr. Lantigua also presided over the maximum distinction award granted to the Ministry of Education at the International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008 for the high quality of its pavilion.

Lantigua stressed that the volume of book sales reached RD$64.4 million which represents a 15% increase from last year’s Book Fair (2007). The Book Fair will close on May 11.

The Minister presided over the official closing ceremony of the Book Fair although the “cultural festival” had been extended 5 days. He announced that Brazil will be the Guest of Honor at the 2009 Book Fair. He also awarded the “Emilio Rodríguez Demorizi Grand Prize of Excellence” to the Ministry of Education in their pavilion.

Brazil’s participation in the closing ceremony of the Book Fair came with an artistic presentation that gave a special touch to the formal event.

Awards:

• Best Pavilion Design by a Publishing Company: Ediciones SM
• Best Institutional Pavilion Design: Central Election Committee
• Best Institutional Participation: Armed Forces Ministry
• Best Book Offers: Susaeta Dominican Publishing
• Best Book Offers: Santillana Publishing
• Best Book Distribution Stand: Environmental Education
• Best Historical Exhibit: General Archives of the Nation
• Emilio Rodríguez Demorizi Grand Prize of Excellence: Ministry of Education