President Mohamed Mursi will inaugurate on Wednesday the 44th Cairo International Book Fair, presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said on Tuesday.

Mursi will meet with a group of Egyptian exhibitors and publishers to discuss the challenges facing the publishing industry in Egypt as well as the support the state could provide to develop this industry, Ali said.

The fair which is held at Nasr City's Fair Ground will be open for visitors until February 5.

More than 730 publishers from 25 Arab and foreign countries are participating in the event.

The General Egyptian Book Organization which organized this event had said it will insure the fair with 100 million pounds to reassure the participants in case of any acts of violence especially since the fair's inauguration coincides with the January 25 revolution's anniversary.