Editorial production in Colombia grew 5.8% in 2016

The publishing sector in Colombia had a growth of 5.8% in 2016 with an increase in both book production and sales, in a market where only half of the reading population, Some 17 million people consume texts, according to a study presented today in Bogotá.

Bogotá, Nov 22 (EFE) .- The publishing sector in Colombia grew by 5.8% in 2016 with an increase in both book production and sales, in a market where only half of the reading population, about 17 million people, consume texts, according to a study presented today in Bogotá.

As detailed in the annual report presented by the Colombian Chamber of Libro, Colombia ranks third in sales in Latin America, surpassed only by Brazil and Mexico.

Book sales in the country between 2008 and 2016 have increased by 29%, reaching in this last year 696,000 million pesos (about 234 million dollars).

The production of registered texts went from 6465 titles in 2000 to 17,939 in 2016, that is, around 50 daily books.

However, the document also details that half of the population with reading capacity in the country, 17 million people, do not read and only the other Half consumes 4.3 books per capita per year. Colombiana del Libro, Enrique González, the sector in the country has adapted to the changes because "in the 70s and 80s the big market was the encyclopedias and that disappeared, however the The number of book sales never went down. "

" Here there are some very strong big chains and new libraries are being created that are conquering a niche audience and they are developing a taste for reading. Director also stressed the need for the Government "to commit to the sector."

Currently, the Ministry of Education only records 5% of the editorial purchases, far from countries such as Brazil, which registers 45% and Mexico 50%.

In this sense, the Colombian Chamber of Books has presented a report to the candidates for the Presidency of Colombia that ratifies the need to include among its government projects a "public policy for reading."

"If this country reads, this country is different," Gonzalez said.