Cairo: "We said we are committed to do the festival and we won't go back even if you have the occasional bomb blasts or elections," he said at the Indian Embassy in Cairo last night.
"We are helping you send the message that Egypt and Cairo is safe by and large. It is important that we use culture to promote tourism. They loved the argument, they came on board," he said.
The Indian ambassador said the focus was to get in more tourists in Egypt from India and the idea to rope in Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan as the Chief Guest for the festival this year stemmed from that.
"This year the approach to tourism was that they wanted to get more visitors from India. In 2010 the number was 114000. The idea was to grow that number and that's why we decided how about getting an iconic figure like Mr Bachchan, at the iconic place such as the pyramids.
"The idea worked...he has been phenomenally gracious. It is generous of him to make time for the festival," Mr Suri added.
Mr Bachchan, 72, will speak about his films, particularly 'Amar Akbar Anthony' at the Opera House tomorrow and will also be present at a gala event at the Pyramids the same day.
Mr Bachchan is also set to receive an honorary doctorate from the Academy of Arts, Egypt.
The festival will also feature performances by a Manipuri dance group, yoga sessions and an Indian street food festival.
"Three years ago we wanted to do an Indian cultural programme partly to get away from the notion that India is all about Bollywood," Mr Suri said.
The third edition of the festival begins today and will continue till April 17.
Mr Suri, however, will attend the event till April 7, and then return to India for a break, before he begins his stint as the Indian High Commissioner to Australia.
India is organising a mega festival, considered the biggest foreign fair, in Egypt amidst a political unrest and violent extremist attacks to send a message that the country is safe for tourists, Indian Ambassador to Egypt Navdeep Suri has said.
Mr Suri said the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism were impressed with our commitment to the 18-day 'India by the Nile' festival and came on board without any hesitations.
"The proposition we gave last year was Egypt is going through a rough patch (and) tourism is badly hurt. Many countries have issued advisories against visiting the country," Mr Suri said.
"We are helping you send the message that Egypt and Cairo is safe by and large. It is important that we use culture to promote tourism. They loved the argument, they came on board," he said.
Advertisement
"This year the approach to tourism was that they wanted to get more visitors from India. In 2010 the number was 114000. The idea was to grow that number and that's why we decided how about getting an iconic figure like Mr Bachchan, at the iconic place such as the pyramids.
Advertisement
Mr Bachchan, 72, will speak about his films, particularly 'Amar Akbar Anthony' at the Opera House tomorrow and will also be present at a gala event at the Pyramids the same day.
Advertisement
The festival will also feature performances by a Manipuri dance group, yoga sessions and an Indian street food festival.
Advertisement
The third edition of the festival begins today and will continue till April 17.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal Indian Athletes Accorded Grand Send-Off Ahead Of Paralympics Games Ishan Kishan Marks His Red-Ball Return With 86-Ball Century In Buchi Babu Tournament. Watch Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Blinken Heading To Israel To Press Gaza Truce 'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal "Strong Indications" Bangladesh Security Forces Used "Unnecessary" Force: UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.