Cairo International Book Fair inaugurated

The 47th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair opened under the patronage of Egyptian Prime Minister Sharif Ismail and Minister of Culture Helmi Al-Nimnim.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is taking part in the 2016 exhibition as a guest of honour. Bahrain Authority for Culture and Authority (BACA) President Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa was present at the inaugural ceremony.

The Egyptian Premier and the Minister of Culture toured Bahrain’s pavilion, which showcased a collection of varied books.

BACA President Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa offered a copy of a book on world heritage in Arab countries to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The countries participating in the fair, set to conclude on February 10, include 21 Arab States and 13 non-Arab countries, with 550 publishers from Egypt, 250 from the Arab world, and 50 foreign publishers, in addition to 118 kiosks for used books.

 In accordance with tradition, Russia also takes part in the large-scale event. The Russian delegation led by State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin includes well-known authors, orientalists, translators and illustrators, among them historian and orientalist Vladimir Belyakov, historian Alexei Varlamov, Elena Ashraf—Russian painter of Egyptian origins and member of the Moscow Union of Artists—and other prominent figures.