Grand Egyptian Museum CEO Shares Insights at UNESCO Cultural Event

Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), participated as a key speaker in a cultural event organized by the Permanent Delegation of the Arab Republic of Egypt to UNESCO regarding the Grand Egyptian Museum. The event took place in the main hall at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, in cooperation with the International Association of Friends of Egyptian Museums.

During his speech, the CEO of the Museum presented, through a presentation, the history of the museum project's establishment and the significant efforts undertaken by the Egyptian state to accomplish this enormous cultural project. He also highlighted the ongoing international cooperation with a number of partners, notably Japan and France, in this endeavor.

Dr. Ghoneim also reviewed the Museum's most prominent contents, which include unique archaeological collections and artifacts from ancient Egyptian civilization, as well as the GEM's utilization of the latest technological means for the conservation and restoration of antiquities.

Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim expressed his pleasure in participating in this event, which comes within the framework of the efforts of the Egyptian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO to promote the museum within the organization and French circles. He invited the participants to visit this magnificent edifice which reflects the greatness and eternal nature of ancient Egyptian civilization throughout the ages.

Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Paris and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, delivered an opening speech. He noted that the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum represents a new chapter in Egypt's history, especially as it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, the timeless Egyptian civilization, which has always been a melting pot of diverse cultures and a guardian of human heritage. He pointed to the magnitude of this project, which houses tens of thousands of unique artifacts, headed by the complete collection of King Tutankhamun's possessions, the close cooperation between Egypt and Japan in this project, as well as the efforts of Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, in supervising the project during his tenure as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

The Ambassador of Japan to UNESCO, the Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, and the former Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, also delivered speeches. They discussed the role of ancient Egyptian civilization and its great impact in various fields, and praised the Grand Egyptian Museum, its immense value, and its role in promoting and preserving cultural heritage, in line with Egypt's pioneering and historical role in UNESCO since the organization's inception. They expressed their congratulations to Egypt on its efforts in establishing and inaugurating this unique museum.

The event witnessed a large attendance of Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates of member states to UNESCO, including the President of the General Conference and the Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Organization, many UNESCO officials, as well as French officials, specialists in the fields of culture, heritage, and museums, and those interested in Egyptology.