By Manal Abdel Fattah
The curtain came down on the third of this March on the activities of the 28th session of the Muscat International Book Fair at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center amid a diverse cultural presence from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information and Chairman of the Main Committee of the Muscat International Book Fair.
Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, said in his speech during the closing ceremony: During the days of the exhibition, thirty-four countries presented their treasures of knowledge and the latest productions of publishing houses locally, Arably and internationally, amounting to a total of eight hundred and forty-seven publishing houses, with more than six hundred and two participating.
Twenty thousand titles, in various types of science and knowledge, including more than nineteen thousand Omani titles. He added: In the space of this exhibition, visitors and patrons from all segments of society flocked, thereby achieving its lofty national goals in promoting the values of reading, raising awareness, and supporting the publishing industry in The Sultanate of Oman, in addition to supporting Omani writers and writers.
He explained that the book fair was a spacious cultural space, with its solid cultural program, which included approximately 130 diverse events, as well as activities directed to children and young people.
The fair also hosted in its session this year an elite group of symbols of thought, culture and literature from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, who presented a summary of their experiences.
Their ideas, in addition to the large group of media professionals who represented various visual, print and audio media, contributed to conveying a vivid and honorable image of the exhibition in particular and of the Sultanate of Oman in general.
The director of the Muscat International Book Fair said: The exhibition formed a wide space for Omani writers and writers who were an essential part in the success of its various programs and activities, in addition to the presence of their various publications, which represented the bright civilized face of creativity, thought and knowledge in our dear homeland, and the arts had a story embodied by (Lobby). Arts) in which the vocabulary of artistic creativity in its various forms and expressive methods is harmonized.
He added: This year’s exhibition celebrated Al Dhahirah Governorate as a guest of honour, which constituted a qualitative addition to the exhibition’s programmes, vocabulary and various activities.
Due to the ancient history and cultural heritage of this governorate, and its treasures, tourist attractions and cultural life, it has produced scholars and writers and contributed to its creative intellectual role throughout the ages.
Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, announced at the conclusion of his speech that North Al Sharqiyah Governorate will be the guest of honor of the exhibition in its twenty-ninth session, which will be held during the period from April 25 to May 2, 2024 AD.
The active media institutions that allocated a wide media space to cover the exhibition and the accompanying cultural events were honored, including the Oman News Agency, the Sultanate of Oman Radio, the Sultanate of Oman TV, the Oman newspaper, the Oman Observer newspaper, and a number of local newspapers, in addition to the supporting companies, auxiliary bodies, the guest of honor of the exhibition, the Arab Publishers Union, and initiatives. Cultural community.
It is worth noting that the publishing houses participating in the exhibition this year amounted to 847 houses from 34 countries, of which 676 participated directly and 171 through agencies, while the total titles and publications listed on the site reached 622 thousand titles, including the Omani book collection, which amounted to 19 thousand books.
The number of modern publications published between 2023 and 2024 is about 35,989 books, Arabic books are 269 thousand, and foreign books are 200 thousand books.
The Ministry of Information participated in this session with a pavilion that included four pillars representing: the Oman News Agency, the General Directorate of Electronic Media (Ain Platform and Media Portal), Nizwa Magazine, and the General Directorate of Publications and Artistic Works.
