JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed yesterday opened the first Saudi Publishers’ Fair at the Jeddah International Center. More than 150 publishing houses and bookstores are participating. The prince said the Kingdom was walking into the developed world by building Saudi citizens both culturally and scientifically.
“Book fairs are tools Saudi Arabia is using to join the developed world,” he said adding that he was happy to see the large number of books and publications on display.
Abdullah Marie ibn Mahfouz, vice chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which organized the fair, said the fair was being held with the activities of the Jeddah Ghair summer festival and was aimed at spreading culture among members of society and at boosting the publishing sector, libraries and distributors. The sector generates an income of more than SR1 billion.
He said for the first time in the history of book fairs, a ceremony would be held during which authors sign copies of their books and give free gifts to the visitors.
“Six renowned writers including the famous Saudi preacher Ayid Al-Qarnai, were already signing their books at a special pavilion as give away as gifts to visitors,” he added.
Ibn Mahfouz said a series of debates and open dialogues between the writers and the audience would be held during the exhibition, thus providing the visitors with an opportunity to become familiar with the book. He said the fair would be included in the annual exhibitions of the city of Jeddah in future. “It will become a cultural event for art, thought and creativity,” he said, adding that he expected the fair to attract more than 40,000 visitors. Ibn Mahfouz said in addition to publishing houses and bookstores in the private sector, public libraries, culture clubs and ministries were participating in the show. He added that the participating ministries included: Information and Culture, Education, Interior, Commerce and Industry and Rural and Municipal Affairs.
“The fair will provide Saudi authors a chance to display their works without any restrictions, especially those who have attained fame through their participation in foreign fairs,” he said.
Ibn Mahfouz stressed that Jeddah was taking great steps to become a regional book center and to attract more authors and writers and added that the city would host an international fair book fair next year with the support of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
He said Saudi female authors and thinkers would hold open dialogues with women visitors and would give lectures on electronic publishing. He also said a pavilion was given to male and female painters in order for them to display their works.
Saudi author Muhammad Qiran lauded the fair and said famous writers were participating. He hoped that more such fairs would be held to provide discussion and dialogue between authors and readers.
