More than 100 Saudi publishers will participate in the first Saudi book exhibition to be held by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) with the cooperation of the Jeddah Literary Cultural Club at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events from July 26 to Aug. 5. Abdullah Maraie Bin Mahfooz, JCCI vice president, announced the plans for the exhibition here recently in the presence of Muhammad Al-Saad, executive director of the Center of Jeddah Forums and Events; Mohammed Karan, executive director of Jeddah Literary Cultural Club; and Hussain Al-Harithy, president of Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions. “This exhibition will feature a large number of events apart from the exhibition of books published in Saudi Arabia some of which are not available in Arab countries,” Bin Mahfooz said, adding that “Saudi novelists have succeeded in attracting a large number of readers.” The exhibition is fully supported by Prince Misha'l Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jeddah. The 10-day publishing event is targeted at the population of Jeddah and the surrounding areas and seeks to provide an important cultural addition to the events hosted by the Bride of the Red Sea during the summer. “In the coming year, the city of Jeddah may host an international book exhibition with the support of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region,” said Bin Mahfooz. “Negotiations between the Ministry of Culture and Information, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and the Literary Cultural Club are in the final stages regarding holding this major international event,” he said. The aim of the exhibition is to give local and international exposure to Saudi authors, said Karan. “The exhibition will be organized in such a way as to allow open discussions between writers, literary experts and intellectuals. These seminars and open meetings will give visitors a chance to understand a book and its contents before they buy it,” explained Al- Harithy. The exhibition will be an important cultural event in Jeddah and will include lectures and open discussions with Saudi authors, said Al-Saad. “It will also highlight e-publishing as well as the problems of Saudi publishers,” he added.
