20th Amman Int’l Book Fair to kick off Thursday

AMMAN — The Union of Jordanian Publishers on Monday announced that the 20th Amman International Book Fair is to commence on Thursday under the Royal patronage, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a press conference at the Royal Cultural Centre, organisers said that the book fair, held as part of the Kingdom’s centenary celebrations, will feature more than 360 local, Arab and international publishing houses from 20 countries.

The fair’s doors will be open until October 2 at the Amman International Automobile Hall on airport road.

The participating countries include Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Turkey, the US, Canada, the UK, India, Italy and China.

A special section of the fair will hold poetry and short story events as well as youth activities.

Similarly, seminars will be held to discuss the challenges facing publishers and their future, and the role of literary prizes in enhancing publication.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture Hazza Barari said that the Amman Book Fair is considered one of the most important Arab exhibitions, according to the testimony of specialists in this field, in addition to being the most successful in recent years in marketing, as indicated by the strong willingness to participate shown by Arab and international publishing houses, readers and writers. 

Barari stressed the commitment of the fair’s organisers and participants to public health measures, indicating that the exhibition management provided wide corridors to maintain physical distancing and allocated a hall outside the showroom to hold other activities.