Tuesday 14 / May / 2024
Muscat: The activities of the 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair concluded on Saturday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information and Chairman of the Main Committee of Muscat International Book Fair.
Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, Director of Muscat International Book Fair, said in his speech that 34 countries have presented their “knowledge treasures” and products of local, Arab and international publishing houses were showcased with 622,000 titles in the various fields including over 19,000 Omani books.
He said that Muscat International Book Fair included some 130 activities including these targeting children. He added that the event hosted a number of icons in the fields of culture and art from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman.
The accompanying exhibition represented a space for Omani writers who contributed to the success of programmes and activities of Muscat International Book Fair.
Al Rawahi announced that North Al Sharqiyah Governorate would be the guest of honour of the 29th edition of Muscat International Book Fair, scheduled for 25 April to 2 May 2024.
Raya bint Amer Al Jabri, member of the Committee of the Society Initiatives, announced the national programme for reading which would be in the form of an annual competition for juniors to be executed at Muscat International Book Fair by the Ministry of Education under the supervision of the Committee of Society Initiatives.
She said that the programme aimed to enhance the critical thinking and the love for reading and targets all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and will benefit over 15, 000 students in the first season. The winners would be honoured at Muscat International Book Fair, she added.
The conclusion ceremony also saw the announcement of the groups winning the award of Muscat International Book Fair which are Al Khalil Art Group of Sultan Qaboos University, Al Shahba Art Group of Nizwa University and the Culture and Art Group of the University of Applied Sciences -Shinas.
The publishing houses participating in the event amounted to 847 from 34 countries and the number of publications released in 2023 and 2024 amounted to 35,989 books, Arab books amounted to 269,000 and the foreign books amounted to 200,000.
The Ministry of Information participated in the 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair by a pavilion comprising four corners.
