Al-Sudani: The government to provide interest-free loans to support publishing houses

INA-  Baghdad

 

Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani affirmed on Sunday the government's support for cultural affairs, while noting that it will provide interest-free loans to support publishing houses.

 

 

A statement by the Prime Minister's Office, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) said that "Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, opened this morning, the Baghdad International Book Fair in its twenty-fourth session," noting that "the Prime Minister welcomed, in a speech during the opening ceremony, the Arab guests in the capital, Baghdad, which the book was linked to its history and present, and confirmed his special welcome to the guests from brotherly Morocco, expressing sadness for the painful earthquake incident that they experienced.”

 

 

The statement added that "Al-Sudani toured the corridors of the exhibition, and was briefed on the participating local and Arab publishing houses, which enriched the exhibition with modern publications, in various fields of culture and science, and saluted those in charge of this cultural event, which embodies the great interest in the book and its readers.”

 

In a speech during the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister stressed "the importance of cultural events in creating a future which Iraq deserves," noting that "interest in the book, its industry and its writer is doubling these days in particular, due to the challenges facing reading and books in general.”

 

He added that "the complaint abounded from the lack of reading and the attempt of modern technologies and social media to pull the rug from the paper book," noting that "the Baghdad International Book Fair represents a blessing for books, reading and knowledge.”

 

Al-Sudani explained that "no matter how much technology prevails, and the spread of the e-book, the book still has a special taste, as it contributed to changing minds and raising generations," stressing that "the government will remain supportive of cultural affairs, based on its duty and program to build Iraq.”

 

 

He also pointed out that "the government will take many measures to facilitate the task of Iraqi publishing houses; in support of cultural and enlightenment action," stressing that "interest-free loans will be launched to support publishing houses, and we will also support major book fairs in Iraq."