16th Amman International Book Fair to open Wednesday

AMMAN — Seminars, poetry readings, a musical performance, plays and “lots of books on all kinds of subjects” will be on offer at the 16th Amman International Book Fair, which opens on Wednesday.

The fair is being held thanks to a Royal benefaction (makruma), and will be held at the Amman Motor Show from September 28 until October 8.

Deputising for Culture Minister Adel Tweisi, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji highlighted the importance of reading, at a press conference on Monday at the National Library Department.

The book fair is being organised by the Jordanian Publishers Union (JPU), the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Culture Ministry. 

Some 15 countries are taking part in the fair, including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and the UAE, said JPU Chairman Fathi Al Biss, who is the director of the event. 

He said that the limited number of participants was due to space restrictions, adding that organisers had to turn down 150 publishing houses that had asked to take part. 

During the press conference, Biss welcomed a guest of honour from Palestine, writer Abd Essalam Atari, who heads the organising committee for the Palestinian International Book Fair.

The seminars and cultural events in the fair alternate between the Jordanian programme and the programme of the guest of honour, Biss said.  

The opening ceremony will be held at the Amman Motor Show at 6:30pm, he added, noting that the event will be followed by a musical performance featuring singer and oud player Marwan Abado at the Royal Cultural Centre at 9:30pm. 

In cooperation with GAM, shuttle buses to the fair will be available at the northern bus terminal, Al Mahatta Bus Terminal and in Sweileh, according to Biss. 

Jamalon, an online bookstore, has arranged with Careem car booking service to reduce fares by 50 per cent for passengers heading to the book fair, he added, and the details of the offer will be announced on the JPU website (www.unionjp.com).