By: Ali Abu-Dashish
CAIRO, Jan. 13 (SEE)- Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El Enany accompanied by a parliamentary delegation, headed by MP Usama Heikal, toured the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
The round head started by inspecting the frontal glass of the museum and King Ramses II’s statue, followed by checking King Tutankhamun’s antiquities hall and the restoration lab, that embraces the refurbishment of 45,000 pieces.
El Enany said that GEM is the most significant cultural edifice worldwide, affirming that the exact commencing timing will be announced at least one year prior, as it will be an international event attended by high-profile figures.
The minister assured that the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir will not be left behind as the European Union granted the ministry €3 million to upgrade it. He pointed out that the ministry regularly works to retrieve Egypt’s monuments.
“In 2016, the ministry retrieved antiquities from Israel. In 2018, monuments were retrieved from five different countries,” confirmed Al-Anany.
At the end of the tour, Al-Anany invited the delegation to join him for an inspection to archaeological sites in Minia and to attend the announcement of the first archeological discovery in 2019.
On his part, GEM’s Supervisor Major General Atef Moftah explained that the project’s cost in 2011 was about $1.6 billions and that the implementation has reached 17% in 2015.
“In 2016, when the Armed Forces’s Engineering Authority took on the project, the spending was rationalized to only one billion dollars,” added Atef. “ The museum’s tracking, controlling and security systems have been upgraded in accordance to the latest technological advancements.”
Atef concluded that GEM will be connected to the pyramids and the “Shooting Club” area, through a new tunnel. “Indeed, the transformation of the club into a cultural and recreational area has started. Also, a mobile Application has been designed to assist everyone.”
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