A 9-day long 14th Nepal Education and Book Fair-2010 kicked off here in Kathmandu on Friday with the aim of envision of a complete literate society and the nation as a whole.

The Global Exposition and Management Services Pvt. Ltd. (GEMS), in co-operation with the National Bookseller and Publishers' Association of Nepal (NBPAN), are launching the largest event on education, career and books in Nepal.

Different kinds of national and international books for diverse age groups are exhibited in the event. Books on information, academics, entertainment banking, sociology, philosophy, literature, child development, health, medicine, engineering, tourism, management, agriculture and IT have been showcased.

However, the gradual development in the Nepali publishing industry will be highlighted through the participation of local exhibitors, according to the organizers.

The exhibition has also accommodated colleges and universities from India, China, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America and other parts of the world through direct participation and local educational consultancies.

Nevertheless, China is participating in the largest Nepali book for the first time. "Publishers' from neighboring country China have also shown their presence in this fair. This is a positive step to make this fair an international event," said Ram Chandra Timothy, President of the NBPAN. Publishers from India have been participating in this event since the beginning.

He also added that organizers will include more countries in coming years.

China's Tibet Book Store, a largest book store selling Chinese books in Nepal, has set up its stall first time in this book fair exhibition with more than 15,000 books of different categories. " We just want more Nepali people to know about Chinese books and culture," said Zhang Jun, Manager of China's Tibet Book Store. According to him, China's Tibet Book Store is promoting Chinese and Tibetan culture and publishers' book in Nepal.

Likewise, an educational agent for the Hebei Medical University and Weifang Medical University from China has set up their booth to provide information to Nepali students who want to study for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in China. "We want to tell them about opportunities after acquiring MBBS degree in China," said Lily Kong, an agent for aforesaid universities.

According to organizers, more than 100,000 visitors are expected to turn up in the 9-day long event where around 120 national and international educational institutions, training institutions, educational consultant, book publishers and book distributors are accommodated.

During the exhibition, educational activities such as seminars, interactions, literature reading, book release will be carried out to benefit visitors, according to organizers.