More than 2,000 publishing houses from 44 countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, take part in the international book exhibition-fair which opened in Leipzig on Thursday. Some 100,000 books, including 20,000 novelties, are presented at this traditional fair this year. Electronic and audio books, art albums, calendars, manuals and laserdiscs are also exhibited at the fair. Stands are installed on the area of 69,000 square meters, Itar-Tass reported. The Leipzig book exhibition-fair, which ends its work on March 18, is traditionally popular among visitors. A total of 163,000 people visited it last year.