Basel Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), emphasized the agency's commitment to establishing the Turathna Exhibition as a central hub for Egyptian handicrafts and traditional arts. The event will bring together various ministries, governmental bodies, and private organizations to support thousands of artisans and artists from across the country. The sixth edition of the exhibition will commence on Thursday, 12 December, at the Egypt International Exhibition Center, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Rahmy highlighted the importance of participation from ministries, partner organizations, and universities in the largest gathering dedicated to handicrafts and traditional arts. This cooperation aims to enhance efforts to provide financial, technical, and marketing services to artisans, enabling them to access local and international markets. Additionally, the collaboration supports raising awareness about the technical services the government offers to small business owners, encouraging young people to engage in entrepreneurship and establish small enterprises.
He added that this year's Turathna Exhibition will see participation from the highest number of partners yet, including 25 ministries, authorities, initiatives, and programs dedicated to supporting Egypt's handicraft sector. This reflects MSMEDA's belief in the value of delivering services in coordination with partners to ensure these resources reach artisans and project owners efficiently.
Rahmy also pointed out the involvement of several ministries, such as the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Local Development, and the Ministry of Industry (Creative Egypt). Additionally, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is participating through its "Sustainable Development from the Heart of the Nile" initiative. International organizations, including the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), will also be present with projects supporting women's production clusters in border governorates and Upper Egypt, alongside the UNIDO-led Rabeha Women's Economic Empowerment Project.
The exhibition will run from December 12 to December 21, 2024, featuring contributions from numerous entities involved in handicrafts and traditional arts. Among these are the Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industries under the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the Furniture Chamber of Damietta, which supports small-scale furniture manufacturers in Damietta, and various Egyptian universities encouraging students' artistic creativity across disciplines.
The exhibition will also include a pavilion showcasing products from Egypt's refugee communities in collaboration with the International Labour Organization. Other participants include the Technological University in Luxor, the Arab Women Investors Union, female artisans from Halayeb and Shalateen, the Fustat Pottery Project, Hayah Karima Foundation, the Women Entrepreneurs Support Project, Mawadda Foundation (focused on developing the Sayyida Aisha area), the National Council for Women, a pavilion for young creative children, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Egypt Gold School, the Holding Company for Spinning and Weaving, and the Furniture Incubator at Helwan University.
