Amman International Book Fair Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Syrian Participation

Amman:Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh, representing His Majesty King Abdullah II, inaugurated the 25th Amman International Book Fair at the Royal Cultural Center. This year's event is themed "Jordan: The Land and the People." According to Jordan News Agency, Minister Al-Rawashdeh emphasized Jordan's cultural heritage, highlighting the development of the Nabataean script on its soil, which contributed to modern Arabic script. He also welcomed the Syrian Arab Republic as the guest of honor, represented by Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh. Al-Rawashdeh addressed the challenges posed by digital transformation in the publishing industry and stressed the importance of adapting to technological changes. He noted the Ministry of Culture's focus on engaging the younger generation by ensuring content aligns with current technological trends. Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh expressed gratitude for Syria's participation and praised the cultural ties between Jordan and Syria. He remar ked on the deep cultural awareness of Jordanians, rooted in the country's rich heritage. Jabr Abu Faris, president of the Jordanian Publishers Association and director of the fair, described the event as a historic milestone, marking 25 years of cultural growth. He acknowledged the Royal patronage's role in enhancing the fair's intellectual stature and regional presence. The fair features 400 publishing houses from 22 countries, including new participants from Kuwait, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Sudan is also represented with a pavilion showcasing its literary works. Abu Faris highlighted the collaboration between various cultural institutions in expanding the fair's program. Events are held at multiple venues, including the main hall, Royal Cultural Center, and National Library Department. The association plans to nominate Amman as a UNESCO World Book Capital. During the opening ceremony, Syrian poet Anas Dghaim and Jordanian poet Ali Al-Faqouri presented traditional and patriotic poe ms. The event was attended by cultural dignitaries, including Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture Nidal Al-Ahmad and Director-General of the National Library Department Firas Dhabareh.