TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Book Committee (KBN) brings back Indonesian book industry to the biggest book exhibition in Asia, Beijing International Book Fair 2019 (BIBF), this year at China International Exhibition Center on August 21-25. This is the fourth year of Indonesia joining the event.

There are five publishers that received a travel grant to join BIBF 2019 thanks to Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf). The publishers include Gramedia Publishers, Mizan Group, Kanisius, Pustaka Obor, and Litara Foundation. Other publishers such as Borobudur Agency, Literasia Agency, and Penerbit Kesaint Blanc also present.

Indonesia delegation head from KBN, Yani Kurniawan, says his team brings more than 300 book titles and six publishers, as well as two literary agents in this year's event. "We hope there will be more Indonesian books whose rights are sold," he said in a press release received by Tempo on August 21. In BIBF 2018, Indonesia managed to sell 20 book rights to Chinese publishers.

Two days before the opening of the event, KBN as Indonesia delegation attended China Book International Foreign Consultants Seminar in Beijing international Hotel, on August 19. This event is attended by representatives of more than 30 countries. Meeting and seminar among international publishers are aimed at developing a wider collaboration and bringing up mutual understanding among publishers in various countries.

Education and Cultural Attache in Beijing, Yaya Sutarya, stated that Indonesia's enrollment is a good thing as a cultural diplomatic through books. "We hope this activity will be held annually," he remarked.

Mitra Tarigan