Under the title of “Egypt talks handicrafts”, Egypt’s hugely popular annual heritage handicraft fair, Diarna, is currently running at Egypt’s northern Mediterranean resort of Marina, some 100km west of Alexandria.
Running for a full month, the exhibition was jointly opened on 25 July by Matrouh Governor, General Khaled Shueib, and Egypt’s Social Solidarity Minister Nevine al-Kabbag.
Some 250 exhibitors displaying the work of some 2000 producers from 12 governorates in Egypt are displaying their goods in three phases: each phase runs for ten days and displays the products of more than 80 exhibitors.
This year’s exhibition has featured visits by Egyptian star actresses and actors, including Dalia al-Beheiry, Muhammad Dawood, Sameh al-Seriety, also other public and media figures.
Goods on display include handicrafts and heritage products of cottage industries, or of innovators and small industry entrepreneurs. Visitors may find textiles, furnishings, rugs and carpets, home accessories, artworks, crochet work, leather products, garments, embroidery, ceramics, copperware, silverware, and alabaster products, and other products highly in demand during the summer season.
According to Ms Kabbag, the Ministry of Social Solidarity is keen for Diarna fair to tour all Egypt. “The fair runs for a full month at Marina to market its goods to the holidaymakers who flock to the place during summer,” she explained, and added that the ministry is providing multiple marketing outlets for the products of small producers. “This is the 14th exhibition the Ministry holds with the aim of promoting the products of small family industries in specific governorates in Egypt.”
“The Ministry plans to hold Diarna fair in a number of Arab countries, starting with Saudi Arabia,” Ms Kabbag noted.
She noted that there are directives by the President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to encourage and support handicraft products and micro-enterprises.
Ms Kabbag extended the ministry’s thanks and appreciation to the Egyptian Red Crescent for their role in securing the sanitisation of the fair and ensuring COVID precautions are ore observed.
“Diarna”, literal for “Our Homes”, started off in 1958, sponsored by the Ministry of Social Affairs—today the Ministry of Social Solidarity—under the name “Productive Families Fair”. The aim was to market products of cottage or home-based industries in order to help families increase their income. It has steadily grown, today featuring products from all Egypt’s 28 governorates, and has expanded to include goods produced by craftsmen and micro industries, also a few public sector companies that sell at discounted prices personal and home products in high demand by the public. It now opens in various cities across the country at different times of the year, generating good revenue.
Watani International
29 July 2021