Saudi Ambassador in New Delhi Saud Al-Sati inaugurated the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 21st World Book Fair which was opened in New Delhi on Monday. More than 1,200 publishers from 23 countries participated in the event.
Indian Minister of State for Human Resources Development Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the event and was also among other dignitaries who spoke at the opening function.
Al-Sati toured around various stalls in the 72 square meter pavilion accompanied by Saudi Cultural Attaché Ali Al-Shahri.
The books showcased at the pavilion give an insight into the Kingdom’s cultural and scientific advancement besides its vast contributions to the Islamic literature. There are also on various genres of Saudi literature and arts. The books are published by the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance, Imam Muhammad Islamic University, Umm Al-Qura University, the King Abdul Aziz Public Library and the King Fahd National Library. The books also reflected the progress made by the Kingdom under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The pavilion also offers an ideal venue to exchange intellectual and cultural exchange between the Kingdom and other nations. The cultural programs accompanying the expo began with a lecture on Saudi literature by Zafer Al-Shahri of the King Faisal University yesterday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.