Launch of the 27th Baghdad International Book Fair with participation from Kuwaiti publishing houses

Baghdad, Sept 2 (KUNA) -- The 27th edition of the Baghdad International Book Fair kicked off today, Wednesday, at the Baghdad International Exhibition grounds, with participation from numerous local, Arab, and foreign publishing houses, including Kuwaiti publishers.

The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office media bureau said in a statement that Prime Minister Ali al-Allawi opened the current edition of the fair, emphasizing from the venue that “Baghdad remains a beacon of culture, a lighthouse of thought, and a cradle of the written word.” He added that “the book is a bridge to cross from the limitations of the present to the vastness of the future; it is the weapon to confront ignorance, the remedy to treat extremism, and the memory that preserves identity.”

The current edition features 618 publishing houses from 28 countries, including 15 Kuwaiti publishers. The fair will run until September 12 and includes a variety of activities, such as cultural and artistic evenings, dialogue seminars, musical events, and book signing sessions for several authors. (End) A.H.H. / R.J.