ChristianTrade Association International’s Marketsquare Europe show wasn't held in 2009 due to economic conditions in Eastern Europe and worldwide. However, the convention is currently slated for October 2010 in Oradea, Romania.            

With the current economic turmoil, Eastern European countries are facing the same recession challenges as the rest of the world—plus, some countries’ currencies are devaluating in relation to the Euro and US dollar, making international commerce more costly. Also, although ChristianTrade hasn’t heard reports of European publishers closing, many are cutting back on new releases, which are essential to the translation-rights business central to Marketsquare convention success.

Plans are for Marketsquare Europe 2010 to be scheduled just prior to the Frankfurt International Book Fair for the convenience of American and other publishers who will be in Europe then. Cost for attendees should be modest to encourage as many as possible to participate. Oradea, Romania (see photo at left), was chosen due to its central location in Eastern Europe—also convenient to Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and other countries—and the many Christian publishers in the area. “Christian publishers in Romania told us that nearly 85% of their publishing is translated from English titles,” says ChristianTrade President Jim Powell. ”With 60 Christian publishers in the country, Romania may be the center of Christian publishing in Eastern Europe.”

For a report on Marketsquare Europe 2008, click here.