Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Económica has extended its international reach with the opening of a new bookstore in Cuba.

Agencia Prensa Latina (PL) reports that starting next May, the institution will bring the nation's public closer to its wide selection of texts, of which it is presenting a sample during the 30th International Book Fair, which is being held in Havana until April 30.

With more than eight decades of history, the institution has branches in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, the United States and Spain.

Hugo Baró Redondo, representative of the publishing house, stressed the importance of this project that will make it possible to bring to the archipelago "collections such as Vientos del pueblo, which has very interesting books, as well as other volumes that unfortunately are not known in Cuba".

Baró Redondo explained: "The idea is also to establish an interactive relationship with the public, to determine the tastes and interests of the audience on the island, and if we are able to offer them that literature.

He commented that, in its 85 years of work, the Fund has diversified its repertoire with texts related to economic themes, novels, philosophy, poetry and even children's literature.

One of the moments," he recalled, "that marked a turning point in the development of the entity came from the hand of the writer Paco Ignacio Taibo II, whose management at the head of the center promoted the implementation of initiatives to bring the public in remote communities closer to new publications".

In this sense, he referred to the relevance of the Vientos del Pueblo project, which integrates a selection of 130 volumes printed in lower quality format, but with high aesthetic values, and which are marketed at low cost through events in remote communities or autolibros (vehicles converted into bookstores on wheels).

In addition to these strategies, they also participate in fairs, such as the one currently taking place in Havana, which gives them the opportunity to show their work and promote a taste for reading everywhere, both within and beyond Mexico's borders.

On this occasion, they are presenting in the Cuban capital not only the Fund's catalog but also works created by other publishers such as Planeta or Unam, which complete the selection of books from the nearby nation.

In addition to that, there is the collaboration with local imprints such as Arte y Literatura, from which a new edition of the volume Desvanecidos difuntos, signed by Taibo II, was launched this Friday at the palace of the Capitanes Generales.

Fondo de Cultura Económica's actions are part of Mexico's program as guest of honor at the Cuban literary festival, which includes a wide range of artistic expressions such as visual arts exhibitions, Folkloric Ballet performances, concerts and film shows, according to PL.