AMMAN
— In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Greater Amman
Municipality, the Union of Jordanian Publishers has started preparations for
the twentieth Amman International
Book Fair, which will kick off on September
26.
اضافة اعلان
This
year’s book fair, which will be held under Jordan’s centennial logo, will take
up the centenary of the foundation of the Jordanian state as its theme, with
the late poet Mustafa Wahbi Tal, known as Arar, chosen as the exhibition’s
intellectual character.
Jaber
Abu Fares, head of the union and manager of the book fair, said in a phone
interview with
Jordan News that this fair is a “great event” for Jordan,
noting however that holding it during the
COVID-19 pandemic would pose a
challenge to the Union.
“The
exhibition’s management will strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s COVID
protocols and prevention measures, through limiting the number of visitors at
any given time, and taking their body temperatures at the main gate,” Abu Fares
said.
The union’s
head emphasizes that they will make sure that people will be wearing masks and
maintaining physical distancing in order to prevent the transmission of
COVID-19.
“If
schools reopen on time, school trips to the exhibition will be scheduled in the
morning to better organize visitor timings,” Abu Fares said.
“We
have addressed a letter to the Ministry of Health asking them to send
representatives to attend the event,” he added.
Abu
Fares noted that the book fair was canceled last year due to the pandemic;
however, in 2021, some Arabic countries managed to hold their book fairs amid
strict anti-coronavirus measures.
“Cairo,
Baghdad, and Sharjah international book fairs were held successfully during
this year,” Abu Fares said. “We will benefit from their experiences and avoid
mistakes, if any.”
Abu
Fares commended the Ministry of Culture for it collaboration with the union in the
preparatory work in facilitating needed official permits and approvals, as well
as logistical requirements.
“Since
the inauguration of the book fair in 1996, the Ministry of Culture has been a
strategic partner that served as an umbrella for the union,” he added.
The
book fair used to be held every two years, but that since 2017, it has started
to take place annually, according to Abu Fares.
Between
300 and 350 publishing houses from all Arab states will be participating in the
international exhibition, he noted.
“A
significant importance is attached to the event in terms of cultural exchange among
countries, and offering the chance of looking at Arab countries’ new issues and
intellectual production,” he added.
“The
exhibition is highly valued by Jordanian cultural associations, as well as
Jordanian readers, publishers, and researchers, who look forward to it every
year.”
“The book
fair will reactivate the tourism sector, with many Arab nationals visiting
Jordan’s historical sites. Staying at hotels, dining in different restaurants,
and buying from local markets, these visitors will help revive the economic
sector,” Abu Fares said.
The
union chief noted that the exhibition made a quantum leap in 2017. Since then,
it has become well known with a fixed date and location — late September at
Airport road.
“Year
by year, the exhibition is developing and the number of registering publishers is
increasing. It is a landmark across Arab countries and a member of the
International Publishers Association,” he said.
Abu
Fares called on national associations, including public and private
universities in Jordan, especially their public libraries, to support the book
fair through direct purchases, especially since print books have recently been
suffering a drop in demand.
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