Moscow book fair showcases Omani identity, contributions

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman participates with an official pavilion in the Moscow International Book Fair, which kicked off on Wednesday at the Gostiny Dvor Center in Moscow, with the People's Republic of China participating as the guest of honour for this year's edition.
This participation is the first for the Sultanate of Oman at the fair, coming within the framework of enhancing the Omani cultural presence abroad and utilising international exhibitions as effective platforms to introduce Omani intellectual and cultural production, as well as opening new horizons for cooperation with cultural and academic institutions, publishing houses, and researchers.
The pavilion reflects the richness of Omani intellectual, cultural, and cognitive production, presenting an image of Omani identity and its contributions in the fields of thought, literature, history, knowledge, and tourism, thus contributing to strengthening bridges of communication with Russian and international cultural circles.
Participating in the pavilion are the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and Sultan Qaboos University through a diverse collection of publications and content reflecting aspects of the cultural, scientific, and heritage movement in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth presents a group of literary, intellectual, and cultural publications that embody the diversity of the Omani cultural scene, alongside books documenting literature, creativity, history, and national identity.
Sultan Qaboos University also participates with publications, studies, and scientific research produced by Omani researchers, reflecting the scientific and cognitive movement in the Sultanate of Oman and highlighting the university's role in knowledge production and scientific research across various specialties.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism presents specialised publications on heritage, history, archaeological sites, and cultural legacy, in addition to publications introducing the tourism, natural, and cultural potential of the Sultanate of Oman, thereby enhancing the presence of heritage as one of the pillars of national identity.
The Ministry of Information section features a selected collection of publications addressing the history, culture, identity, and civilisational legacy of the Sultanate of Oman, alongside publications in the fields of media, literature, thought, history, and Omani international relations.
The ministry showcases the 'Ayn' digital platform via a designated screen in the pavilion, highlighting its diverse cognitive and media content, which includes high-quality visual and photographic productions reflecting aspects of cultural and civilisational life in the Sultanate of Oman, alongside a collection of Omani books available as e-editions.
On the pavilion's main screen, the ministry displays documentary films highlighting Oman's history and civilisation, alongside a special film tracking the development of Omani-Russian relations and the fruitful cooperation they witness across various fields.
An interactive screen allows visitors to the pavilion to listen to a selection of audiobooks, while the 'Children's Interface' of the 'Ayn' platform displays educational, cultural, and entertaining materials aimed at developing youth knowledge and strengthening their connection to their national identity, coinciding with the 4th edition of the Moscow International Children's Book Fair.
More than 300 publishing houses from Russia and other countries are participating in the Moscow International Book Fair, which continues through September 6. The event features over 400 cultural and professional events, including author meet-and-greets, book launches, seminars, and literary discussions, alongside a professional programme discussing issues related to the publishing industry and cultural cooperation.
The fair's accompanying programmes cover a number of topics related to the future of books, the publishing industry, literature, translation, culture, and reading, as well as the transformations taking place in content creation amidst technological developments. - ONA