They also highlighted the importance of training cadres for this industry through the establishment of a national academy. The conference, exhibition and festival sector began to develop at the beginning of the 1980s when the first international conference centres were built in Cairo and Alexandria. According to Abdel-Aziz, Egypt already has companies capable of organising successful exhibitions and conferences. Amani Asfour, chairwoman of the EBWA, stressed the need for coordination between the government and the private sector. Haddad also underlined the importance of reducing conference centre booking fees, as well as Egyptian airline fares, so as to attract more exhibitors.
Training is perhaps the most important issue requiring attention.