Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, paid a courtesy call on Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs MATSUMOTO Hisashi on Friday to thank the Japanese government for its cooperation in financing the museum and to look forward to its opening in July, Japan’s Foreign Ministry reported.

Japan is providing financial cooperation in the form of yen loans totaling 84.247 billion yen ($585 million) for the construction of the museum, as well as technical cooperation aimed at preserving and restoring artifacts at the adjacent conservation and restoration center.

Cultural assets such as Tutankhamun’s golden mask are scheduled to be transferred to and exhibited at the museum, and it is expected that the museum will contribute to strengthening the preservation, restoration and research of Egypt’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as promoting tourism.

Matsumoto welcomed Director Ghonneim and looked forward to the upcoming opening of the museum, which is seen as a symbol of development cooperation between Japan and Egypt.

Director Ghoneim expressed his gratitude for the cooperation that the Japanese government has extended and also hoped that high-level Japanese officials would be able to attend the official opening ceremony in July.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is set to be the world’s largest museum and is located in the Giza region near the three Great Pyramids.