The 17th Erbil International Book Fair kicked off today, Wednesday, amidst a broad cultural presence and active local and international participation. Twenty-two countries from around the world are participating, along with more than 300 local, Arab, and foreign publishing houses, showcasing over one million titles in various intellectual, scientific, and literary fields.

The fair’s theme, “The World Speaks Kurdish,” coincides with Kurdish Language Day and the extensive translation movement witnessed in the cities of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The fair is being held in the capital, Erbil, at the Erbil International Fairgrounds and will last for ten days. It is considered one of the most prominent cultural events in Kurdistan and Iraq, providing an important platform for knowledge exchange and cultural dialogue between peoples. It annually attracts a large number of visitors and those interested in books.

One visitor to the fair said that the Erbil Book Fair has become one of the most important cultural exhibitions in the region, due to its role in supporting the publishing and authorship movement, opening horizons for interaction between readers and writers, and contributing to strengthening Erbil’s position as a thriving cultural center.

The books on display range from literature, history, politics, philosophy, religion, science, and information technology, reflecting the richness of the content and the diverse interests of the target audience.

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The fair’s program includes a series of cultural seminars, workshops, and meetings with prominent authors, thinkers, and academics, in addition to book signing sessions and events for children and young adults. This year’s fair is expected to be a space for intellectuals to meet and exchange views on current issues in the fields of thought and culture.

A representative of one of the publishing houses said that this event is the largest in terms of the number of participants and the titles on display, noting that the fair aims to “promote a culture of reading and build bridges of cultural communication between Kurdistan and the rest of the world.”

One visitor said that the 17th Erbil International Book Fair continues to offer a space of cultural diversity and intellectual richness, combining the pleasure of reading with the depth of dialogue, at a time when the printed word continues to retain its brilliance amid rapid digital transformations.