By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: The visiting Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will attend the opening of the 26th Doha International Book Fair today at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
Turkey is the Guest of Honour at the fair.
“Twenty-five publishers from Turkey are participating and nine cultural activities will be held as part of its participation,” Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari told a press conference at QNCC yesterday.
“Historical and Islamic relations which link us to Turkey are very well-known, and are reflected in its participation in the fair,” he said.
A total of 427 publishing houses from 26 countries, including all six GCC countries, are participating in the 10-day exhibition. Of these, 393 are Arabic and 34 foreign publishing houses.
There are 66 publishing companies specialising in children’s books.
There will be 21,860 titles at the fair, comprising 18,580 Arabic and 3,280 foreign ones.
The fair will not only be limited to book sales, it also will witness attendance of writers and intellectuals and artists from various countries from all over the world.
The book fair will also witness book signing sessions and sale deals.
Dr Al Kuwari said e-books do not affect printed ones, rather they encourage people to read and, thus, increase the number of readers of printed books.
The fair will not include entertainment activities due to the current situation in the Arab world, the Minister added.
The Peninsula
