Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Muscat International Book Fair 2017 from today

09b531e8-c77a-42c8-a9f9-d68cedae31db
09b531e8-c77a-42c8-a9f9-d68cedae31db
minus
plus

935176

By Kabeer Yousuf — MUSCAT: Feb 21 - The 22nd edition of Muscat International Book Fair, featuring 450,000 titles from 750 global publishers, will open at the new Oman Conference and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. The opening will be presided over by Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani, Minister of Information. MIBF, ranked one of the best three in the Gulf region and among the best 10 in the Arab World, will have 1,200 pavilions. It will see 750 publishers (590 direct and 160 through agencies) from 28 nations. This year, Suhar will be the Guest of Honour. Intellectual, artistic and cultural programmes have been planned as part of the 11-day fest, which will run until March 4.

“The Muscat International Book Fair has come a long way and secured a position among the best three fairs in the region,” Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani, Minister of Information, has said.


A total of 37 official authorities from the Sultanate and other countries will be making their presence.


The MIBF Committee is headed by Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani. Yousuf bin Abdullah al Balushi as Head of the MIBF Committee; Shaikh Hamed bin Hilal al Ma’mari, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and Deputy Head of the MIBF Committee; and Ali bin Khalfan al Jabri, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Deputy Head of the Committee will oversee various activities of the festival.


Three integrated stalls will host cultural events, while an expanded corner will see children’s activities, and cultural and community programmes.


Additionally, there are cultural cafes in many pavilions. Many authors, owners of leading publishing houses and other delegates will be present for discussions and cultural debates.


A dedicated media station has also been set up.


A range of restaurants, mosques, clinics and banking services along with communication facilities are other attractions. Omantel, Oman Air, Oman LNG, Bank Muscat and Mwasalat are strategic partners of the MIBF.


Dr Al Hasani said reading habits among the children are on the rise and the committee has made all efforts to inculcate and nourish the habit among the future generation.


“Children’s books ranked second in terms of sales at the last year’s fair. We have made all efforts to inculcate the reading habit among them with lots of fun-packed activities and learning sessions,” he told the Observer.


Mwasalat, the public transport company, will ply buses to and from the venue every 20 minutes from morning until late night. These buses will start from Ruwi.


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon