Parliament initially approves bill allowing Sisi to chair GEM board of trustees

CAIRO – 4 November 2019: Egypt’s House of Representatives initially approved on Monday a government-drafted bill, per which the President of Egypt will chair the board of trustees for the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

In accordance with Article No. 6 of the new bill, the board of trustees shall consist of 15-25 members. Moreover, the President is authorized to issue a decree to form the board of trustees and specify the membership term.

The museum's Board of Trustees will be responsible for approving the general policies, plans and strategic affairs of the museum, enabling the authority to make decisions deemed as necessary, and allowing the museum to fulfill its cultural, historical and scientific mission to the world.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany previously said that the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum will be the largest celebration organized by Egypt in the recent period, given the interest of the whole world in this event.

The opening is expected to be attended by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as well as kings, princes, presidents, heads of international organizations, and senior officials from all around the world.

On October 17, 2019, the government issued new amendments to the executive regulations of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) to form a new board of trustees chaired by the President of Egypt.

The new regulations set clear terms of reference for the Board of Trustees, after the approval of the Committee of Culture, Information and Antiquities at the House of Representatives.

Article 5 of the draft law stipulates that the trustees,and the museum management will subject to the administration of the board of directors, and the chief executive officer.
Additional reporting by Mustafa Marie