Contec 2025: the road to Frankfurt 2027 opens with a strategic look at the future of the Chilean book

On 28 May, Contec 2025 opened its new edition in the Sala Acario Cotapos at Estación Mapocho, with a day focused on the challenges of distribution and book formats in the digital age. The event was led by Jimena Jara, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, and Marifé Boix, Vice President of the Frankfurter Buchmesse, who set the tone for this key moment for the Chilean publishing sector on its way to the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2027, where Chile will be Guest of Honour.

Marifé Boix highlighted the institutional collaboration that has made this process possible:

“I want to thank MINCAP, DIRAC and ProChile, who have collaborated on this event and on this whole journey we are organising around the Frankfurt 2027 project, where Chile will be Guest of Honour.”

In her remarks, Jimena Jara underlined the strategic dimension of the event: “This is a milestone that continues the path we have set ourselves to strengthen the book ecosystem, committing to its deepening, sustainability and internationalisation. This is a space we are building collectively, and it challenges us to think about the Chilean book not only in terms of its creation, but also in terms of its capacity for dialogue with the world, because we believe our stories deserve to cross borders and be translated.” Simón Ergas, director of La Furia del Libro, welcomed the event being held at the fair: “We are very happy and honoured that Contec is taking place at La Furia del Libro, and it is undoubtedly the best occasion to get to know the local publishing landscape and the energy that keeps us doing this.”

After the opening ceremony, Aracelly Rojas, secretary of the Council for Books and Reading, presented the report “The Chilean book market in figures. Contexts, results and projections”, a study characterising the Chilean publishing sector in 2019–2024. The document identifies the number of titles published, the actors in the book chain and the main market dynamics. Rojas stressed the importance of having data to guide public policy and strengthen the promotion of reading: “We have taken very seriously the task of leaving tools in place for the sector, building working networks and committing to professionalisation. These three days are an investment, and we think it is key to make these spaces available to the sector.”

She also announced a major initiative: “The Council for Books and Reading, together with the Universidad de Chile, is developing a public data platform on the book and reading ecosystem, which will allow this information to be visualised more precisely and will be presented in the coming months.”

Contec is a platform for exchanging experiences, lessons and new tools among actors from the publishing, cultural and technology worlds. It is also a space for building alliances that carry the work of the Chilean sector beyond its borders.

Watch the opening of CONTEC 2025 here (in Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr3jrRL478g