Dr. Gihan Zaki, Minister of Culture, held a meeting with representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to follow up on the executive agreement regarding the grant project for improving and equipping the National Cultural Center (Cairo Opera House).
The JICA delegation included Mr. Ibisawa Yu, Chief Representative of the JICA Egypt Office; Ms. Mayada Magdy, Senior Regional Representative; and Ms. Dina Karam, Program Manager at the JICA Egypt Office.
The meeting was attended from the Ministry of Culture's side by Ambassador Omar Selim, Advisor to the Minister of Culture for Foreign Relations; Mr. Osama Abdel-Latif, Acting Chairman of the Cairo Opera House; Engineer Yasser Al-Bahwashi, Head of the Central Administration for Engineering Affairs; and Engineer Yasser Shalan, Head of the Central Administration for Stage Production.
The Japanese grant aims to upgrade the infrastructure of the Cairo Opera House and elevate the efficiency of its theaters. This will be achieved by modernizing technical equipment and machinery, enhancing services, and upgrading the auditorium of the Grand Theater to align with the latest global technical and technological standards.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to expedite the completion of the remaining project tasks. They also discussed organizing a major joint Egyptian-Japanese artistic gala to celebrate the completion of the Grand Theater’s development works.
Dr. Gihan Zaki emphasized the vital importance of executing a comprehensive plan to redevelop the Cairo Opera House's facilities to match modern technological developments. She noted that this upgrade will bolster the Opera House's role as one of the most prominent cultural and artistic landmarks in Egypt and the region.
The Minister of Culture further explained that the Japanese grant agreement reflects the depth of Egyptian-Japanese relations and the continuous efforts of the Japanese government to support the Cairo Opera House, thereby strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations across various fields of development, culture, and the arts.
For his part, Mr. Ibisawa Yu, Chief Representative of the JICA Egypt Office, stated that the agency highly values its long-standing partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. He emphasized that the Cairo Opera House stands as a symbol of friendship and cultural cooperation between Egypt and Japan, reflecting the deep historical ties connecting the two countries.
Mr. Yu added that JICA is keen to sustain its cooperation with the Cairo Opera House to support plans for developing and modernizing its theaters through the JICA grant. This will help enhance the institution's cultural and artistic impact while providing an environment that keeps pace with the latest global technical and technological standards.
He pointed out that the Grand Theater development project, which is expected to be completed during 2027, embodies the ongoing and fruitful cultural and artistic cooperation between the Egyptian and Japanese sides, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting cultural and artistic infrastructure.
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