17th Amman Int’l Book Fair opens

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Culture Minister Nabih Shuqum on Wednesday inaugurated the 17th Amman International Book Fair at the Amman International Motor Show, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The book fair, which runs through October 14, is organised by the Jordanian Publishers Union (JPU), the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Culture Ministry.

During the opening ceremony, Egypt was announced as 2018's guest of honour of the fair, which coincides with announcing Amman as the Capital of Islamic Culture 2017.

Nearly 350 publishing houses from 17 countries are participating in the fair, which includes cultural programmes and activities, story-telling and seminars.

JPU Chairman Fathi Al Biss, who is also the director of the event, said that the fair is a "distinguished" cultural event that represents “what we want for the future of the Kingdom’s cultural sector”.

The fair's committee has “benefitted from last year's experience”, noting the presence of the UAE, this year's guest of honour, Biss said.

The UAE is represented by 12 cultural intuitions and commissions, according to Petra.