Organizers cut costs to expand global participation in the major publishing event RIYADH: The Riyadh International Book Fair, one of the region’s largest cultural events, will open on Oct. 1 at Riyadh Front with the participation of Arab and global publishing houses. Iraq will be the guest of honor at the 10-day international cultural fair. The new session of the fair, being supervised by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, will see a significant expansion of activities and events, representing 16 cultural sectors. The commission has offered a 50 percent discount on space rent to publishing houses from around the world, dropping shipping costs and establishing an e-store and e-selling points for all publishers. Saudi Cultural Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan said that the books, publishing, language, translation and literature sectors receive great support from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said that the fair is an important cultural event in the publishing industry, adding that it highlights Saudi creativity and stimulates cultural participation and trade cooperation, so that Saudi Arabia can become a global gateway for the publishing sector. The Riyadh International Book Fair will include for the first time an international conference for publishers on Oct. 4 and 5 to strengthen communication between local, Arab and international publishing houses, activate partnerships between related institutions and companies, and sustainably enrich the regional scene through discussion sessions, interactive activities, workshops and seminars. The fair will include cultural and literary symposiums, poetry and art readings, discussion panels, interactive activities, and diversified workshops in the fields of art, reading, writing, publishing, book making, and translation.