JEDDAH, 22 February 2006 — Some 500 Saudi and foreign publishing houses will take part in a major international book fair that begins in Riyadh today. As many as 150,000 titles in Arabic and 100,000 tiles in English, French, Italian, German, Russian and other foreign languages will be on display at the 10-day show.
Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari noted the efforts made by his ministry and other departments to make the event a big success.
“This exhibition represents a major expansion of the annual book shows organized by Saudi universities,” he said.
According to Abdullah Al-Moajjel, undersecretary for cultural affairs at the Higher Education Ministry and supervisor of the exhibition, a number of cultural programs including seminars, lectures, painting shows and reading of stories and poems would be held on the sidelines of the event.
Saudi intellectuals are pinning great hope on the Riyadh International Book Fair. “This large-scale exhibition and the cultural programs will herald a cultural openness in the Kingdom,” said Muhammad Nasrullah, a researcher.
Saad Al-Humaideen, a poet, called upon publishers to supply informative and interesting books at prices affordable to the general public. He urged the organizers to display books published by Saudis abroad at the exhibition.
“Media censorship and modern changes” is the title of a seminar to be held on Sunday. Turki Al-Sudairy will chair the seminar to be attended by Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, Muhammad Abdu Yamani, Muhammad Al-Rumaihi and Nahed Bashateh.
Other seminars and lectures will focus on topics such as private sector and cultural development; the effect of WTO accession on Arab culture; production of modern Arabic dictionaries; the role of education in promoting a culture of reforms; and the art of caricature.
A number of writers, authors and intellectuals will be honored during the event.
The organizers have given a lot of space and time for activities related to women and children. There is a special corner for children’s books. A number of cultural contests have been arranged for children. Dialogue forums will be held on subjects such as how to encourage our children to read, reading with children and for a happy childhood.
The pavilion for Saudi paintings will show more than 150 works of Saudi artists including women. Saudi fashions and handicrafts will be displayed at the pavilion for Saudi heritage and traditional industries, the organizers said.
