President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated Tuesday the 38th Cairo International Book Fair organized by the Egyptian General Authority for Books at the exhibition grounds in Nasr city.

More than 623 publishing houses representing 32 Arab and foreign countries are taking part in the fair.

Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni along with other cabinet ministers were on hand to receive President Mubarak upon arrival at the exhibition ground.

Chairman of the Egyptian General Authority for Books Dr. Naser Al Ansari made a presentation during which he said that publishers taking part in this year's fair rose to 623 at an increase of 108 compared to last year.

Also, countries taking part increased to 32 including 17 Arab and 15 foreign states, he pointed out.

President Mubarak later went on an inspection tour of the fair's pavilions including those of Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, UAE, Spain, Italy and China.

President Mubarak listened to a presentation by Minister of Information Anas Al Fiki on his ministry's arrangements for the Africa Cup of Nations that will be hosted by Egypt on January 20 through February 10.

Attending the inauguration ceremony were a large number of statesmen, Arab and foreign ambassadors in Cairo and men of letters along with the chairmen of Egyptian press institutions.

The fair is to open its door for the audience on Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm.

Meanwhile, US ambassaor in Cairo Francis Ricciardone will inaugurate the festival of the American University in Cairo (AUC) at its Pavilion in Cairo International Book Fair which assigns part for the literature of Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. All litrery works of Mahfouz have been translated by the AUC.