Culture Ministry aims to develop book publishing industry

Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko wrote this on Facebook following his yesterday's meeting with representatives of the book publishing industry.

"Compared to 2019, the book publishing industry has suffered significant losses due to the pandemic, both in terms of funding and existence. The book publishing industry in Ukraine numbers 7,626 registered market players. And measures that can provide sufficient conditions for existence and work of the industry are extremely needed,” Tkachenko wrote.

According to him, the ministry within the next two years intends to improve a strategy for the development of the book publishing market; promote reading among the population of Ukraine; change program 579 to raise the turnover limit of companies that can join it; start issuing certificates for the purchase of books for school-age children.

In addition, it is planned to update the procedure for replenishing library funds; provide grants for the publication of book products; to promote Ukrainian literature abroad; to develop existing projects, reading promotion programs, international partnerships.

At the same time, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy intends to start training programs for authors, translators, publishers, launch three digital platforms in 2021, as well as conduct research on the publishing market, reading promotion and the availability of Ukrainian books and literature in the world.

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