Book fair to promote new province

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's annual book fair this year is set to promote Sulawesi's new province Gorontalo by including a special stand focused on books all about the province.

Organizers said a planned performance called "Gorontalo: the Hidden Paradise" would showcase the province's art and cultural aspects at the opening of the book fair Wednesday.

"We chose Gorontalo because it has (a) qualified education and tourism potency that needs promotion," Indonesian Book Publishers Association exhibition head Robinson Rusbi said.

As many as 270 stands by 120 participants, including publishers and cultural centers would make up the event, which runs from Nov. 14 to 18.

The 27th Book Fair has also invited neighboring Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam -- under the ASEAN Book Publishers -- to take part.

"We will provide one stand that sells original books from (these) countries," Robinson said.

Dyandra Promosindo project manager Jimmy Aritonang and event organizer Radyatama said the book event was larger this year thanks to the provision of more space -- an increase from 4,000 sqms last year to 5,500 this year.

"From the given space we hope that more people will visit the exhibition," Jimmy said.

The publishers association said it had registered 100 new publishers since 2005, adding to the already-listed 800 members.

The association said the public's increasing interest in reading all kind of books, including popular fiction and literature, was evident.

The growing number of book fairs held by other organizations or publishing companies was welcomed by the association, Robinson said, because these events helped stimulate the public's knowledge of new books, authors and publishers.

But he said he regretted the government's insufficient support for events and companies that promoted literature and reading.

"The government should give a subsidy so that small publishers can afford to open stands at book fairs," Robinson said.

And he said through the event he hoped many people would recognize small publishers along with well-known publishers.

Jimmy said however he expected to build a more internationally focused book fair in 2008 because this year would provide an opportunity to invite foreign publishers and institutions.

"But the concept will be discussed after this year's event," Jimmy said. (ewd)