Book prices in Algeria soar amid financial crisis

Algeirs Nov 5 (IANS) Book prices soared in the 22nd International Book Fair of Algiers (SILA) on Sunday amid the financial crisis in the country organisers said.

"There was a slight fall in the sales compared with previous fairs " Xinhua news agency quoted Head of Algerian Publishers Association Ahmed Madi as saying.

The main cause of the price hike is "the devaluation of the dinar by 35 per cent in a year as all materials used in the process of publishing books including paper ink and printers are from abroad with foreign currency" Mustapha Guellab owner of the private book publisher El Houda.

As many as 638 foreign publishers representing 52 countries including South Africa China Russia and India are exhibiting their books on the fair.

--IANS
amit