Tbilisi becomes the World Book Capital of 2021 for a year. Kuala Lumpur that gained the status in 2020 handed the position over to Tbilisi on the World Book and Copyright Day today, April 23.

The official ceremony which includes several events and performances opened at Silk Factory Studio by the Mayor of Tbilisi. Kakha Kaladze received the status of the book capital from the delegation of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

The project aims to boost a culture of reading and diffuse its values in all ages and population groups in and out of the national borders.

Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to carry out activities with the aim of encouraging a culture of reading and diffusing its values in all ages and population groups in and out of the national borders. Through the World Book Capital programme, UNESCO acknowledges the cities commitment for promoting books and fostering reading during a 12 months period between one World Book and Copyright Day and the next (23 April). UNESCO has been assigning this status to different cities since 2002.