Idlib, Sept. 14 (SANA)The fourth Idleb Book Fair in northwest Syria is drawing publishers from Egypt, Lebanon and Gulf states, expanding the range of literary, academic and cultural works available to Syrian readers.

The weeklong fair, which opened Friday and may be extended, brings together nearly 100 local and Arab publishing houses offering more than 100,000 titles.

Ammar al-Jabi of Beirut-based Ibn Hazm publishing house told SANA that the publisher, whose offerings focus on students of Islamic studies, brought books on Quranic interpretation, Arabic language and Islamic jurisprudence to the fair.

Al-Jabi said rising prices for raw materials, particularly printing paper, as well as higher packaging and bookbinding costs, are among the main challenges facing publishers.

Book fair provides space for cultural exchange

Salem Shabib of Granada publishing house said cultural diversity was essential to developing literary work and opening new areas in the world of books.

He said Granada was participating in the Idleb fair for the first time as part of the Turkish-Kuwaiti pavilion.

Shabib said the publisher’s participation in book fairs in Idleb, Damascus, Homs, Deir Ezzor and Hasakah reflected its interest in contributing to Syria’s cultural landscape.

Visitors expressed satisfaction with the variety of books available, saying the fair offered students and other readers a broad range of educational and cultural choices.

Student Mohammad Hourieh said book fairs held during the years of the Syrian revolution had been limited, while the current event offered greater openness in displaying books and novels without restrictions and was free from the security policies that had previously governed such fairs.

Organizers say the participation of nearly 100 local and Arab publishing houses and the availability of more than 100,000 titles are intended to help reconnect Syrian readers with Arab intellectual and literary production and encourage dialogue between publishers and readers.