INDONESIA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR OFFICIALLY OPENED

Jakarta, 19 Dhulqa’dah 1436/3 September 2015 (MINA) –  Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF) 2015 Was officially opened yesterday, even without the presence of Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who was scheduled to attend earlier.

Attending the opening remark, The Ambassador of South Korea to Indonesia Taiyoung Cho, Central Jakarta Mayor Mangara Pardede, Director General of ministry of education and culture Prof Dr Katjung Marijan MA, Chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Publishers (IKAPI) Lucya Andam Dewi, and Chairwoman of IIBF Rosidayati Rozalina.

The event was officially opened at around 11 am local time by Marijan Katjung as the representative of the ministry. Katjung said the government is committed to continuously support the international Book Fair in the future, as the event has introduced Indonesia through books.

“The government is committed in this exhibition by providing continuous support in the future,” he said at the opening speech.

the Chairwoman of IKAPI, Lucya Andam Dewi expressed her appreciation to the government given the great attention to the exhibition, by covering the rental fee for participants in the JCC.

“We convey our highest appreciation to the ministry, hopefully this support will encourage literacy activists to work better,” said Lucya.

Lucya explained that the Book Fair is not only a showcase of the instigators of literacy but it also acts  as a means of cultural diplomacy among nations. countries such as Korea, India, Malaysia, Netherland, Germany, among others participated in the event.

“Guest of Honour this year is South Korea, a country that shares the same year of independence with indonesia, and i believe we will be inspired by the country as a goh, both in terms of technology as well as culture,” she added.

Rosidayati as the chairwoman of the event introduced South Korea as the guest of honor this year, following Saudi Arabia as the guest of honor in last year’s fair.

IIBF 2015 is joined by 63 participants filling 97 booths, consisting of domestic and foreign publishers, university presses, bookstores and distributors, publishers of digital books and digital as well as online book stores, literary agents, national libraries, and etc.(L/R04/NMT)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)