Tunis welcomes the General Assembly on French-Language Books Around the World!
Tunis will host the General Assembly on French-Language books around the world on 23 and 24 September 2021. The General Assembly was announced in the Plan for the French language and multilingualism presented by the President of the Republic in March 2018, and forms one of the highlights of the 50th anniversary of La Francophonie and is part of the context of the Heads of State Summit to be held in November 2021 in Djerba. The challenge of this event is to contribute to developing access for all French-speaking publics to books and reading by removing the obstacles identified in producing, distributing and circulating French books, works and authors in the world. The event will be broadcast live on this page, from 10.30 am (Paris time) on 23 September 2021.
Updated on 23/09/2021
10 min
The General Assembly in Tunis on 23 and 24 September will bring together all of the stakeholders in the French-Language publishing world around various issues:
- To promote the diversity of intellectual and literary creation in the French language;
- To contribute to developing the French-language publishing sector;
- To improve the circulation of French books, works and authors
- To integrate opportunities linked to digital technology.
To provide concrete solutions, initiatives and programmes for the long term, during its preparation the General Assembly has involved 1,000 people working in the French-language book sector from different horizons and geographic backgrounds. Under the leadership of the Commissioner General, Sylvie Marcé, it will bring together more than 400 participants in Tunis and remotely.
The General Assembly is a major event in the French speaking world. In addition to the six States or Governments – Côte d'Ivoire, the Republic of Guinea, Quebec, the Swiss Confederation, Tunisia, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, as well as the International Organisation of La Francophonie – working with France to co-organise the event in Tunis, multilateral governance has also been established in which 22 countries are represented. Associating so many States and Governments around this meeting will enable the geographical, social, economic and cultural disparities of a polycentric French speaking world to be taken into account, but also to ensure that the recommendations that stem from this assembly will be conveyed politically during the Summit of Heads of State and Governments in Djerba, on November 2021.
French-language books in the world in 2020
The French-language book market offers very diverse situations across the world. While Europe and North America represent approximately 33% of the world’s French-speaking population, they concentrate 95% of the global sales revenue of French-language books at world level. This statistic alone allows us to understand that access to French-language books is extremely disparate depending on the country in which one lives.
For many people living in the South, books remain totally inaccessible financially. While the average price of a book in France represents 0.34% of the monthly GDP per capita, the price of a locally produced book in sub-Saharan Africa is 4.2% of the average monthly GDP per capita, i.e. 12 times more, proportionally. The difference is even more significant for books imported to Africa, which would cost between 150 and 325 euros if equivalent ratios were applied in France.
The strengthening and professionalisation of the book industry in Southern countries is an essential step to improve access to books. This will make it possible to create a dynamic book sector, to create relationships of trust between stakeholders in the French-speaking sphere, to develop ambitious public policies and to create an environment that encourages economic development in the sector.
A concrete action plan
In order to change the situation, a concrete action plan organised into four areas has been established:
- The creation of a digital network of those working in the French-language book sector
This website, which came about thanks to the undertaking of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, enables easier contact between those working in the French book sector.
- The collection of data on the French-language publishing market in 2020, 2030 and 2050
As part of the General Assembly, a series of regional panoramas on the French-speaking book market in 2020is being produced by the BIEF (Bureau international de l’Édition française). An economic study projecting what this market could be in 2030 and 2050 has also been carried out and will be published on our website.
- A book of proposals for new impetus in books and reading
To identify obstacles and find solutions to boost and balance the French language book market, a platform has been put in place to collect those involved in book publishing’s opinions and proposals. Many workshops have already been organised on the fringes of international book fairs. On the basis of these exchanges, 50 proposals have been drawn up and will be presented in Tunis on 23 and 24 September.
- A collection of French literature for young readers
In order to develop young people’s access to books and reading, a collection of French literary works intended for young people aged 15 to 25 has been established and will be presented in Tunis on 23-24 September. This particularly ambitious project aims to highlight the wealth of French-language creation. It also constitutes an invitation to publishers to find solutions to make the selected works available throughout the French-language space.
The General Assembly on French-Language Books Around the World is implemented by the Institut français, with Sylvie Marcé as General Commissioner.
Find out more about the General Assembly on French-Language Books