Over 650 publishers representing 45 countries confirmed their participation in the 16th International Book Fair (SIEL), in Casablanca on February 13-22, the Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday in a statement;

The Fair will span over 11,000 square meters, said the statement which was issued following a meeting of the Fair's cultural committee chaired by Culture Minister Bensalem Himmich.

During The meeting, held to discuss the preparations for the cultural event, light was shed on the Fair's 16th theme celebrating Morocco's expatriates, the same source said, adding that this theme reflects Morocco's openness towards the components of its identity and the world's cultures.