Tashkent, April 23 -- "Book Reading Week" started with the slogan "Kitobsevar Millat". This event will feature presentations of new local and foreign books published by Uzbek publishing houses, along with promotions, masterclasses, and roundtable discussions throughout the week.

During the opening ceremony, speakers highlighted the significant increase in the number of businesses engaged in publishing activities in recent years. For instance, in 2019, Uzbekistan had 161 publishing houses, whereas as of January 1, 2024, this number has risen to 532 registered publishing houses. Among these, 11% are state-owned, with the remaining 89% owned by the private sector. Over the years 2019 to 2023, publishers collectively produced over 230 millio...