Samih Sawiris, chairman of Orascom Development Holding, laid the foundation stone for the El Gouna Convention and Cultural Center as part of the second phase of building the cultural complex, which includes a concert hall and a large square surrounded by high columns.
The company said in a press release that the center in El Gouna will be the headquarters of the Gouna Film Festival by 2020, adding that it also aims to be the venue for classical concerts, opera, and international and Arab concerts.
The auditorium has 600 seats for the public and 120 for orchestras, while the convention center can accommodate 2,000 seats. It has meeting rooms for various purposes, including hosting seminars and conferences from around the world.
Khaled Bishara, CEO of Orascom Development, said that the center would place El Gouna on the global map as a meeting place for the most important conferences and cultural events, and that the best architects and construction employees were engaged in the design and construction of the center.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
