Erbil's first international book fair starts on 8th May

The first Erbil International Book Fair and Library Equipment Exhibition will take place in Erbil's exhibition area in Shaheed Sami Abdul Rahman Park on the 8th- 14th May 2006

The exhibition is held in cooperation with Erbil International Exhibition Company and organized by Middle East International Exhibitions.

The Erbil exhibition will be the largest specialized exhibition to take place in Iraq in the last few years. The exhibition will include some of the top names in international publishing and academic institutions, and it will provide a unique opportunity to explore the latest editions and educational techniques, from textbooks to information technology solutions for libraries. The exhibition will also provide the opportunity to meet Iraqi officials in order to understand the real needs of the Iraqi educational sector.

Why the city of Erbil?
Erbil city is considered along with all the Kurdistan Region's cities to be among the safest in Iraq. Most ministries and governmental institutions along with private and international companies have moved to the Kurdistan Region because it is considered a safe haven.

The DBX Trade Show, which took place in Erbil in 2005, was attended by exhibitors from over 25 countries and many multi-national companies and was voted a great success by many attendants and exhibitors.

Helping to restore the education sector
The goal of Erbil International Book Fair is to help Iraq's education sector to restore essential higher educational services; reconstruct damaged facilities; and refurbish critical facilities including laboratories, library, and internet centres after years of neglect. The ultimate goal is to reintegrate Iraqi students, scholars and scientists into the international academic community; and reinforce the autonomy of the universities in Iraq as independent centres of free, open, secure and tolerant learning.

The fair will focus mainly on the latest 2006 and 2007 editions of educational materials, including Information Technology solutions for libraries.

Attendants
The exhibition is expected to attract public, private and non-governmental organizations as well as government officials and will be a great opportunity to meet and network with interested persons and officials from the Iraqi educational sector.

Attendants are expected to include UNESCO, UNICEF, NGOs operating in Iraq, representatives of foreign embassies, an Arab League representative, Iraqi ministries, Iraqi universities, libraries divisions of the ministry of education, and Iraqi central libraries.