Hawas, Trezaijeh, Azar Are CIBF Ambassadors This Year

The management of the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF 51) has developed an idea that identified Egyptian international symbols as ambassadors of the fair around the world.

This idea will become an annual tradition to select names of influential figures every year.

Ambassadors ’mission is to carry the cultural message of CIBF during their travels everywhere around the world. The High Committee of the CIBF defined five names as ambassadors for this year.

The nominees are Dr. Zahi Hawwas, icon of Egyptology and pioneer of archaeological discoveries in the world, Dr. Hani Azar, great architect based in Germany , Mahmud Hassan Trezeguet, famous footballer, Sameeha Ayyoub, theater actress who was known as the Mistress of Arab Theatre, and Ahmed Mustafa, an international fine artist.

Dr. Haitham Al-Haj Ali, head of the General Egyptian Book Authority (GEBA) and also head of the (CIBF), said: "It is a new idea which came to our minds only 5 weeks ago."

It was discussed and approved by members of the High Committee.

To answer the question of why the management of CIBF did not choose literary personalities, the answer is that the goal of the idea is to promote the fair in the largest possible way through the pioneers of different fields.

The purpose is purely marketing, and has no relation to the field of literary creativity.

" He added that the first goal of CIBF is to promote Egypt's cultural position by promoting the book fair abroad. Those who were chosen as ambassadors are figures with Arab and international weight.

This step consolidates what the Western press described the book fair in Cairo in the nineties as "The Face of Egypt" Dr. Shawkat Al-Masry, the official in charge of the cultural program of the CIBF, said that the management thanked those great symbols for agreeing to participate in the CIBF ambassadors’ program.

They understood the philosophy of CIBF as a service to the Egyptian culture and propaganda for Egypt abroad. A number of names were presented but some of them asked about the material rights that they may gain.

Contributed by Ahmed Moamar