New Zealand Guest of Honour at Frankfurt Book Fair 2012

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest book fair, being held annually in the second week of October. Next year, New Zealand will be the guest of honour.

On the occasion of the visit of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs to New Zealand, the director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, Jürgen Boos, and chief executive Lewis Holden of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage signed the agreement on 2 June 2011.

The Frankfurt Book Fair features more than 7,500 exhibiting companies, over 110 attending countries, 300,000 visitors, 100,000 buyers and 10,000 international journalists. It diversifies into digital media and the range of businesses contributing to that industry, the film industry, the gourmet industry, science, technology and medicine. It also features education, the promotion of literacy, books in translation, international culture and politics, audio books, comics, maps and other aspects of the book trade.

Being the guest of honour presents a unique opportunity for New Zealand not only to boost its book industry, but also to showcase itself throughout the entire year on an international stage through literature, art and culture and promoting trade.