New York: The Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad Abdulaziz Al Kuwari opened Qatar’s Pavilion at the Book Expo America Book Fair in New York in the presence of the Fair’s Director Steve Rizzato, Fair Coordinator Ritz Kerr, major publishers, a number of global writers and novelists, members of diplomatic missions of various countries to the United Nations and a large number of visitors.
The Minister has received an official invitation from the Director of Book Expo America to attend the opening ceremony.
Book Expo America, the largest book fair at the level of the United States in which about 2,000 publishing house are taking part, is a major global cultural event.
Qatar’s pavilion at the fair exhibits publications of the various departments of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, especially the departments of Research and Cultural Studies, Heritage, Press and Publications, Public Libraries and Periodicals such as Doha Magazine and Folk Heritage Magazine as well as publications of other ministries and corporations such as the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF) Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing and Qatar Museums and others. Issued in Arabic, English and French languages or otherwise translated from other languages, these publications cover the Qatari cultural landscape and features developments taking place in the country.
During the opening ceremony, Dr Al Kuwari briefed the guests on the role played by Qatar to encourage publication of works of Qatari and Arab writers and the translation of their work into all world languages, pointing to the role of the Doha International Book Fair in embracing Arab and Qatari books. The Fair, held every year, enjoys direct care and support from the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Dr Al Kuwari said noting that the Fair has won a regional and international reputation as well as participation by major Arab and international publishing houses and is accompanied by important seminars and workshops every year.
The Minister also gave a briefing on the Ministry’s preparations for celebrations silver jubilee of the Doha International Book Fair, its associate cultural events and coverage of the Fair in the international media, saying that Qatar gives culture considerable attention and has established important cultural facilities such as museums and Katara Cultural Village to include all aspects of culture and art. The state also has embraced many cultural activities of various countries, Dr Al Kuwari said, pointing out that the cultural and publishing sector enjoys a prestigious status in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar Development Strategy 2011- 2016.
QNA
