Cairo, January 22 (AseanAll) — The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Cairo inaugurated the Indonesian Pavilion at the 57th Cairo International Book Fair 2026 on January 22,2026. The official opening of the Indonesian Pavilion, located in Hall (1B), was held in a formal ceremony attended by representatives of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, several officials of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Cairo, as well as international visitors.
Indonesia is once again participating in the largest international book fair in the Middle East and Africa after an absence of more than a decade. This participation marks an important milestone in Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy and in strengthening its presence in the global Islamic scholarly arena.
In his remarks, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Cairo emphasized that Indonesia’s participation in the Cairo International Book Fair is not merely attendance at a cultural event, but part of a broader soft power diplomacy strategy.
He stated, “The Cairo International Book Fair is one of the largest literacy platforms in the Middle East and Africa, as well as a meeting space of civilizations that brings together ideas, scholarly traditions, and networks of cultural diplomacy in the Islamic world.”
He further stressed that Indonesia, as one of the world’s largest Muslim-majority countries and rich in cultural diversity, possesses a profound literary and scholarly heritage ranging from classical manuscripts to inspiring contemporary publications.
Through the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, Indonesia is presenting a selection of its leading publications, including the Official Indonesian Qur’an, Qur’anic commentaries and translations, as well as a Sign-Language Qur’an, an innovation that opens access to the meanings of revelation for persons with communication disabilities. These publications are not merely books but represent a model of Indonesian Islam that is culturally inclusive, adaptive to contemporary realities, and oriented toward the public good.
Indonesia’s participation this year also carries strategic significance within the framework of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Egypt, as it represents the practical implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the two countries signed by His Excellency President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and His Excellency President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on 12 April 2025.
This strategic partnership underscores the importance of promoting the values of “Wasathiyah Islam” (moderate Islam), which constitutes one of the main messages Indonesia seeks to convey through its participation in this year’s exhibition.
In addition to displaying books and manuscripts, the Indonesian Pavilion serves as a space for cultural dialogue, intellectual exchange, and the promotion of the scholarly traditions of the Indonesian archipelago to the international public.
The Chargé d’Affaires expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs for its active participation in the Cairo International Book Fair 2026 and expressed his hope that this participation would contribute to expanding cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and knowledge between Indonesia, Egypt, and the Islamic world.
