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QNA
Doha
Under the patronage of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem al Ali opened the 29th Doha International Book Fair at the Doha Convention and Exhibition Center (DCEC) on Thursday.
As many as 427 publishers from 30 Arab and foreign countries are participating in the fair.
Organised by Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Center, the 29th edition of the book fair is being held under the theme “Doha, a City of Knowledge and Conscience”. The theme is driven by the ministry’s vision of “Towards a Conscious Society with Sound Conscience and Healthy Body”.
The Russian Federation is a guest of honour at this year›s exhibition.
With a total of 791 stalls, the book fair is seeing participation of 287 Arabic books publishers, 68 for children’s books, 17 educational publishers, and 25 foreign books publishing houses.
The fair also includes around 101,992 titles in Arabic and 17,261 titles in other foreign languages, bringing the total number of Arab and foreign languages titles to 119,253.
Accompanied by guests, the minister toured the exhibition spread over 29,000 square metres. He was briefed on the most recent publications and the prominent Qatari, Arab and foreign participants.
The minister visited the pavilions of Russia, France, Oman and Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Science and Literature. He also visited the pavilions of Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, Iran and Turkey in addition to those of a number of Qatari entities taking part in the fair including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Endowments, Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, Qatari Authors Forum, Rosa Publishing House and Qatar Poetry Center.
The main platform of the exhibition, which is the venue for major intellectual seminars, was opened with classical music performance by some members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
“Qatar’s relationship with books is old, dating back to the time of the founder late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, who despite the difficult circumstances and the economic and political responsibilities, attached great importance to books,” the minister said, adding that the Doha International Book Fair is more important than “just an event for selling books».
“Its importance stems from the necessity of renewing the relationship with books,” he said, pointing out that the relationship of Qataris with books goes beyond material things like degrees and jobs, and is an emotional bonding.
On his part, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs HE Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al Kuwari said what draws attention to this fair is its local interest in culture, its emergence in international forums, its interaction with all cultures and the preservation of the original culture with the absorption of many ideas.
Shura Council Speaker HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al Mahmoud said the first book fair established in the Gulf was in Qatar and expressed his happiness over the level it has reached starting with good organisation which reflects the keenness of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani for culture and knowledge.
He said Qatar seeks to spread knowledge, culture, love, peace and stability, which Qatar stands for since the time of its Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani till the present time.
In response to a question on the role of Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) in the fair, Director-General of QFFD Khalifa bin Jassem al Kuwari said QFFD will sign an agreement with Doha International Book Fair.
Last year, QFFD funded a few books by Syrians to implement an agreement signed with Qatar Red Crescent Society, he added.
A number of ministries and government institutions, including the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Development Planning and Statistics Authority, Police College, Qatar University, Katara Prize for Arabic Novels, Qatar Museums, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (NHRC) and Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies are participating in the fair.
In the framework of the exchange with the Gulf exhibitions, the GCC pavilions are participating in the fair, including the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature and the Ministry of Culture of Oman and the Ministries of Morocco, Algeria and Palestine.
Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is participating in a distinguished pavilion, in addition to other distinguished contributions from a number of embassies accredited to Qatar, including the embassies of the US and the French Republic, Korea and Palestine.
Spain is participating for the first time in the exhibition this year by a publishing house specialising in
children’s books.
Doha
Under the patronage of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem al Ali opened the 29th Doha International Book Fair at the Doha Convention and Exhibition Center (DCEC) on Thursday.
As many as 427 publishers from 30 Arab and foreign countries are participating in the fair.
Organised by Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Center, the 29th edition of the book fair is being held under the theme “Doha, a City of Knowledge and Conscience”. The theme is driven by the ministry’s vision of “Towards a Conscious Society with Sound Conscience and Healthy Body”.
The Russian Federation is a guest of honour at this year›s exhibition.
With a total of 791 stalls, the book fair is seeing participation of 287 Arabic books publishers, 68 for children’s books, 17 educational publishers, and 25 foreign books publishing houses.
The fair also includes around 101,992 titles in Arabic and 17,261 titles in other foreign languages, bringing the total number of Arab and foreign languages titles to 119,253.
Accompanied by guests, the minister toured the exhibition spread over 29,000 square metres. He was briefed on the most recent publications and the prominent Qatari, Arab and foreign participants.
The minister visited the pavilions of Russia, France, Oman and Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Science and Literature. He also visited the pavilions of Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, Iran and Turkey in addition to those of a number of Qatari entities taking part in the fair including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Endowments, Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, Qatari Authors Forum, Rosa Publishing House and Qatar Poetry Center.
The main platform of the exhibition, which is the venue for major intellectual seminars, was opened with classical music performance by some members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
“Qatar’s relationship with books is old, dating back to the time of the founder late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, who despite the difficult circumstances and the economic and political responsibilities, attached great importance to books,” the minister said, adding that the Doha International Book Fair is more important than “just an event for selling books».
“Its importance stems from the necessity of renewing the relationship with books,” he said, pointing out that the relationship of Qataris with books goes beyond material things like degrees and jobs, and is an emotional bonding.
On his part, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs HE Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al Kuwari said what draws attention to this fair is its local interest in culture, its emergence in international forums, its interaction with all cultures and the preservation of the original culture with the absorption of many ideas.
Shura Council Speaker HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al Mahmoud said the first book fair established in the Gulf was in Qatar and expressed his happiness over the level it has reached starting with good organisation which reflects the keenness of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani for culture and knowledge.
He said Qatar seeks to spread knowledge, culture, love, peace and stability, which Qatar stands for since the time of its Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani till the present time.
In response to a question on the role of Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) in the fair, Director-General of QFFD Khalifa bin Jassem al Kuwari said QFFD will sign an agreement with Doha International Book Fair.
Last year, QFFD funded a few books by Syrians to implement an agreement signed with Qatar Red Crescent Society, he added.
A number of ministries and government institutions, including the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Development Planning and Statistics Authority, Police College, Qatar University, Katara Prize for Arabic Novels, Qatar Museums, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (NHRC) and Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies are participating in the fair.
In the framework of the exchange with the Gulf exhibitions, the GCC pavilions are participating in the fair, including the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature and the Ministry of Culture of Oman and the Ministries of Morocco, Algeria and Palestine.
Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is participating in a distinguished pavilion, in addition to other distinguished contributions from a number of embassies accredited to Qatar, including the embassies of the US and the French Republic, Korea and Palestine.
Spain is participating for the first time in the exhibition this year by a publishing house specialising in
children’s books.
