In line with presidential directives to preserve and promote Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, senior government officials convened this week to discuss plans for a large-scale, nationwide festival dedicated to traditional and heritage crafts, to be hosted across multiple governorates.
The meeting brought together Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity; Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment; and Maj. Gen. Khaled Fouda, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Local Development.
Toward a Global Festival for Egyptian Heritage
Participants reviewed mechanisms for implementing presidential instructions to organize a global heritage crafts festival on Egyptian soil, featuring a broad program of cultural, artistic, and recreational events.
Dr. Morsy welcomed her counterparts, expressing optimism that the planned festival would serve as a landmark event worthy of Egypt’s historic legacy. She noted that the initiative aligns closely with the Ministry of Social Solidarity’s ongoing efforts to promote handicrafts and traditional industries domestically and internationally.
Expanding “Diarna” and International Outreach
The minister pointed to Egypt’s participation in the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela in India, where 26 Egyptian exhibitors are showcasing a wide range of handmade products, supported by the Rural and Environmental Industries Support Fund.
According to Dr. Morsy, the total number of Diarna exhibitions inside and outside Egypt has exceeded 65 exhibitions over the past year and a half, underscoring growing global interest in Egyptian crafts.
She added that the ministry is working to establish a permanent headquarters for the Diarna exhibition, alongside the upcoming opening of a heritage village in Sharm El-Sheikh, creating new platforms to market Egyptian crafts while continuing to open new international markets.
Supporting Crafts, Jobs, and Local Economies
For her part, Dr. Manal Awad reaffirmed the Ministry of Local Development’s commitment to supporting traditional and handmade crafts across all governorates, emphasizing the ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Social Solidarity through the “Ayadi Misr” digital platform, which promotes and markets heritage products online. The initiative, she said, plays a key role in creating job opportunities for women and youth.
She also highlighted ministry efforts to support economic clusters in Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta through the Upper Egypt Local Development Program, aimed at strengthening governorates’ competitive advantages. Additional support is provided through the Local Development Fund and the “Mashrouak” program, which finance small, medium, and micro-enterprises—particularly those focused on handicrafts and heritage products—while facilitating producers’ participation in local and international exhibitions.
Presidential Backing and Next Steps
Fouda emphasized that the promotion of heritage and handicrafts receives direct attention and strong support from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He noted that the proposed festival builds on the success of the New Valley International Festival for Heritage Sports, Desert Activities, and Arts, expressing confidence that the new initiative will present Egypt’s cultural heritage in a manner befitting its global standing.
