Egypt establishes committee to regulate festivals

SEE - July 14: Egypt recently the establishment of a committee to regulate and grant licences for festivals and special events in the country.

The committee will be headed by the Culture Minister as well as representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance, Tourism, Antiquities, Civil Aviation, Youth and Sports, and Local Development, Ahram Online reported.

A decree of establishment issues by the PM office defines "festivals" and "special events" as gatherings that have a ceremonial nature and are held by governmental or non-governmental bodies with the aim of "developing creativity and preserving the Egyptian cultural identity.

The decree states that NGOs that hold festivals must be operating within the law, with a capital of at least EGP 500,000 and have an Egyptian owner with 51 percent or more of its shares.

Ahmed Yasser