On Sunday, the USAID, US Embassy in Cairo, and the Ministry of Antiquities celebrated their successful cooperation represented in the Integrated Management of Cultural Tourism (IMCT). The project included a major innovation and restoration project for a number of sites in Old Cairo, Fatimid Cairo, like Bamaristan Al Mouyad Sheikh, and Takiyet Taqi El Din El Bastami.
The event was attended by the US Ambassador to Cairo Herro Mustafa Garg, the Minister of Culture Dr. Ahmed Hanu, the Deputy of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Yomna El Bahar, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber and US Aid officials.
During her speech, the US Ambassador briefed the long history of cooperation between Egypt, and the US, especially in domains of culture, heritage, and antiquities. She said: "The American people through USAID have invested significant resources to restore and rehabilitate sites throughout Egypt, to promote Egypt's rich and diverse cultural heritage. And we have been proud investors in this effort since 1995."
She added that US Embassy and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities developed a portfolio of investable properties to help transform neighbourhoods into more sustainable tourism destinations through adaptive reuse and conservation based on what I have seen today this partnership was a resounding success of this restoration process.
Garg also described a lot of positive sides about the process of innovation, like having a great cooperation with people around the sites that included in the restoration and upgrading project, the removing of more than 20,000 tons of junk and waste around and from the front of one of Cairo's historic gates, and the percentage of women who worked in the project that reached 50%.
She described: "Our investments in cultural preservation helped bring back the skills that Egypt has been known for, the craftsmen, the incredible craftsmen we have, the new entrepreneurs, and giving this vibrant tourism experience. We worked with tent makers, craftspeople, and of course the amazing food and media restaurants in the area. I am so pleased to see the incredible results that have been achieved in this historic site. And I look forward to seeing this neighbourhood thriving yet again."
On his side, the Minister of Culture Ahmed Hanu expressed his pleasure to participate in such event, hailing the historical and cultural role of such a site. He also praised the role of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and the Administration of Historic Cairo due to their successive work to restore the site.
He also praised the cooperation between the US, and Egypt, represented in IMCT who established teams and selected important sites to be restored, and upgraded to be sustainable cultural spots.
Hanu also asserted the ministry's readiness and intention to cooperation in these projects, and provide all assists needed.
In the same context, Al Bahar highlighted that the IMCT targets preserving the heritage of Egypt which is for all humanity, not only Egyptians. She added that this project reflected mutual cooperation and civilized perspective between Egypt and the US to restore such historical sites, and re-introduced them to Egyptians to have excellent, and unique historical, and tourist experience.
She asserted that using these cultural and historic sites as models for sustainable development, and economic purposes will help to develop tourism in Egypt, and tourism sector.
On his side, Saber appreciated the efforts of the project to preserve the history and heritage of Cairo, looking forward into more cooperation in such domains. He also asserted that celebrating such cooperation will fulfil the means of development, and sustainability as these landmarks can play a major role in developing more art, cultural, social, and economic activities.
Finally, the Director of the USAID mission in Egypt Sean Jones that he is pleased that the cooperation between Egypt and the US is successful, and progressing since 1995. He highlighted that the project invested million of dollars in several Egyptian sites in Cairo, Aswan, Alexandria, and Luxor to support the sector of cultural tourism in Egypt.
He continued that the USAID and IMCT were interested in participating in such an event to assert the deep relation and cooperation between the US and Egypt, looking forward to continuing more projects in future.
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