The 8th Cairo International Song Festival will be held at the Cairo International Conference and Expo Center in the Egyptian City of Naser during the period between August 20-28, 2002.
Preparations for the festival are underway as it will witness a big change in the form and content particularly after the decision taken by the Egyptian Minister of Tourism the festival patron, Mamdouh al Biltagi to appoint musician Hilmi Baker as the festival secretary general succeeding musician Mohammed Nouh who requested the minister to excuse him for quitting the job for health reasons. The health conditions of the musician prevented him from following up the previous festival held during the period between August 20-28, 2001 and permitted him to attend the concluding ceremony only.
Biltagi endorsed the new list of the higher executive committee for the festival.
Throughout the past years Baker was member of the festival higher committee and semi permanent member of the Arab Song Contest jury in addition to his effective roles in the previous festivals. The UAE daily al Bayan cited him as saying that “the forthcoming session will witness new ideas and programs hich will push the festival forward to achieve more success whether at the local, regional or international level. This will also give the opportunity to many Arab and foreign countries to participate in the concerts which will be performed at the sidelines of the festival and also the discussion of making new contests within the festival other than the Arab and foreign song contests -- Albawaba.com
