International trade response to the 2007 Cape Town Book Fair has been extremely positive, with organisations like the International Publishers Association (IPA), which represents over fifty countries, leading the way. The International Booksellers Federation (IBF), representing 90 booksellers from all over the world, has also confirmed its presence – it’s scheduled its 2007 General Assembly to coincide with the Fair – as have the British Publishers Association and APNET, the African Publishers Network.

They head up international delegations that feature publishers, booksellers and distributors from countries including England, North America, Holland, Nigeria, Germany, France, China and India.

“Most of the foreign exhibitors who attended the inaugural event are back, and many have taken even bigger stands,” says Vanessa Badroodien, the CTBF MD.

“We got extremely good feedback from the trade delegations, who had experienced a positive climate for business networking. Many of our international exhibitors have expressed a keen interest in understanding the South African, and African, publishing market.”

New exhibitors at the 2007 event include the World Bank, Oxfam, and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, which will be accompanied by twelve educational publishers.

The academic, educational and specialist contingent has been expanded this year, and includes a stand representing twenty-one American university presses, as well as librarians from the Library of Congress.

“The international trade delegations will have a significant presence on the exhibition floor,” says Badroodien. “In addition to the associations and NGOs signed up, there will be large delegations representing book collectives from all parts of the world.”