2015 TIBE kicks off in Taipei City

2015-02-12

The Taipei International Book Exhibition was launched Feb. 11, spotlighting Taiwan’s cultural diversity and growing role as a key player in the international publishing sector.

“The beauty of our culture warrants further promotion on the global stage,” Minister of Culture Hung Meng-chi said at a news conference. “TIBE is a peerless platform showcasing Taiwan’s heritage worldwide and enhancing global exchanges and interactions.”

Others attending included Taipei Book Fair Foundation Chairwoman Doris Wang, as well as representatives from TIBE guest of honor New Zealand like Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei Director Si’alei van Toor and Publishers Association of New Zealand President Sam Elworthy.

According to Hung, the 23rd edition of TIBE features a record 22 leading New Zealand authors such as Eleanor Catton, the youngest winner of the U.K. Man Booker Prize, and Maori Witi Ihimaera. Running until Feb. 16 at Taipei World Trade Center, the exhibition also includes representatives of the South Pacific nation’s 17 publishers, members of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, and 615 publishers from 66 countries and territories.

In addition, TIBE comprises 500-plus related activities spanning art performances, book signings and seminars. Highlights include daily traditional dance performances by Maori artists and a digital publication forum presenting the latest trends on electronic books from Japan, South Korea and the U.S.

Also set to prove popular is a workshop showcasing English-Chinese picture books jointly produced by writers from Taiwan and New Zealand.

According to Hung, a series of lectures on Taiwan literature is not to be missed. “It is certain to improve public understanding of the richness of the country’s poems and novels while boosting appreciation of local culture,” he said.

Drawing over half a million visitors last year, TIBE is aiming to improve upon this number in 2015 and pave the way for greater interaction among publishers throughout the region and rest of the world.

“The event is a truly world-class platform offering the publishing industry a special opportunity to cooperate and develop synergies across a broad array of areas,” Hung said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=227360&CtNode=413)