Malaysia To Be Guest Of Honour At Riyadh International Book Fair 2017

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has become the first ASEAN member to be the guest of honour at Riyadh International Book Fair 2017 from March 8-17. A Ministry of Education (MOE) statement said Monday, Malaysia's presence is on the invitation of the Saudi Arabian government. The Malaysian delegation will be led by Minister of Education, Mahdzir Khalid. Malaysia is the 10th in the world and the third in Asia after Japan and India, who were invited as guest of honour at Saudi Arabia's largest book fair. The book fair is attended by over 900 publishers and over two million visitors from 29 countries worldwide. Saudi Arabian Minister of Culture and Information, Dr Adel Zaid al-Toraifi said the choice of Malaysia as guest of honour was based on the lose ties between both governments, be they in politics, economy, culture and tourism. The MOE said the four agencies involved in the book fair are the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), the National Book Council (BKM) and Kota Buku Corporation (PKB). The Malaysian delegation will comprise over 10 book publishers, including Ana Muslim Malaysia who will promote books for Muslim children. Malaysian speakers who will present papers on strategic ideas in development are Perak Menteri Besar (chief minister), Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir; Islamic economist Dr Mohd Daud Bakar and cartoonist Lat (Mohammad Nor Khalid). -- BERNAMA