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'London welcomes Indonesia': 2019 London Book Fair marks 70 years of Indonesia-UK bilateral relations
“In the UK, there are 5,000 islands of receptivity waiting for your creation to come,” said Smith, “London welcomes Indonesia next week.”
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The 2018 London Book Fair at the Olympia Hall, London. The Baltic Countries were the Market Focus during last year's book fair. (Shutterstock.com/DILOCOM)
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ndonesia’s participation as the Market Focus Country for the 2019 London Book Fair is a timely celebration of 70 years of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United Kingdom, according to UK Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik.
“The London Book Fair is a great opportunity for Indonesia to go global,” said Malik at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “It is without doubt that Indonesia will play a big role in the global stage. What is more important is for the world to know about Indonesia and its roles,” he added.
The Education and Culture Ministry's culture director general Hilman Farid said the London Book Fair was an important event for cultural diplomacy.
Read also: Indonesia to create ripples at 2019 London Book Fair
The 2019 London Book Fair, the second-biggest after the Frankfurt Book Fair, will be held from March 12 to 14 at the Olympia exhibition center in London. Aside from the book fair, Indonesia has planned dozens of cultural programs across London to introduce other creative industry sectors, from game and music to animation.
Besides 12 writers and 34 book and non-book publishers, the Indonesian delegation also includes culinary expert Santhi Serad, fashion designer Didit Maulana, musicians Nyak “Ubiet” Ina Raseuki, Dimawan and Tesla Manaf, as well as artist Muhammad “Emte” Taufik.
Indonesian British Council country director Paul Smith saw the London Book Fair as the culmination of a series of cultural partnerships between the two countries, better known as the UK/ID program. Since 2016, the UK/ID program has resulted in more than 250 creative relationships, 90 collaborative works and 75 writer’s residencies.
“It’s an ambition that finally comes true that we have finally managed to secure Indonesia as the Market Focus Country,” said Smith.
“Indonesia is insufficiently known in my country and many other countries,” he added, “The London Book Fair is an opportunity to show that we are committed to raising the profile of Indonesia, culturally, intellectually, artistically, creatively and in popular terms with the UK.”
The theme 17,000 Islands of Imagination reflects the vast diversity of the country in terms of literature and its people.
“In the UK, there are 5,000 islands of receptivity waiting for your creation to come,” said Smith, “London welcomes Indonesia next week.” (wng)
