We believe south-south dialogue is very important as there has always been that lopsided flow of information,'' he said. This year's book fair is the largest since the fair was launched in 1991. Some 300 exhibitors from 50 countries representing over 600 publishers and more than 500 visitors from overseas are attending. ''The more trade in books you can stimulate, the more viable southern publishing industries can become. Trade is an absolute fundamental thing that needs to be continued and enhanced,'' said Mbanga. We create a meeting place for all the different sectors of the book chain, bringing together authors, librarians and publishers,'' said Mbanga.
Books help in building consensus among people.
That's why book selling needs to be streamlined. Arnab Neil Sengupta is Assistant Editor of Khaleej Times, Dubai, the largest circulated English newspaper in the Persian Gulf, editor of the editorial pages, and a former editor at India Today, India's premier newsmagazine.