Kuwait: Kuwait 45th edition of the International Book fair will kick start on Wednesday and will involve participants from 29 Arab and foreign countries.

Saad Al-Enezi, the fair director, said at a news conference on Monday that 404 publishing houses and 117 agents would participate in the annual cultural event, adding it would be sponsored by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The event will be held after a two-year hiatus, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The fair management has chosen Italy as a guest of honor, a gesture of cultural openess toward the European Union countries, he declared.