The fair was opened by Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek, who said that during her term in office the Ministry had doubled budgetary allocations for books and book publishing from €3 million to €6 million and opened over 20 new libraries. She expressed the hope that Croatian book publishers would manage to avoid a crisis similar to one that hit them a few years ago.
ZV Director Renata Suša said that their aim was to connect all stakeholders - readers, institutions, book publishers, the cultural and business sectors - to ensure further development and qualitative growth of the central literary event in the country.
Over the next six days of the fair visitors will have an opportunity to hear more than 200 hours of professional programme and attend workshops, quizzes, film screenings and concerts.
Indian diplomat and writer Vikas Swarup, whose debut novel "Q&A" was made into the award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire", is the special guest of this year's fair.
Mayor Tomislav Tomašević announced increased budgetary outlays for books, adding that the most important project of his administration was to build a modern library on the site of the former industrial complex Paromlin in the city centre.
Admission to the fair and parking for visitors are free.