Egypt’s tourism & antiquities min. visits Archaeological Replicas Factory

CAIRO – 6 December 2020:  Egypt’s Minister of Tourism & Antiquities Khaled el-Enany visited the new archaeological replicas factory.

This factory is the first of its kind in Egypt. It is scheduled to be officially opened in early 2021 after its workers complete their training.

During the tour, Enany was accompanied Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities by Mostafa Waziri, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Engineering Affairs Hisham Samir and a number of ministerial officials.

The minister toured the entire factory; the manual and automated production units, in addition to the service area for workers such as the cafeteria and locker rooms.

During the visit - photo via Egypt's Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

The total area of ​​the factory is about 10 thousand square meters. It consists of 44 artists and workers with notable experience and are specialized in this specific field of work.

The factory is equipped with high tech machines, and has manual and automated production lines for casting metals to produce and raise the efficiency of products from metalwork, as well as a line of wood and carpentry products.

That is in addition to the required molds for production lines, sculpture, printing, drawing and coloring, in and an exhibition hall for replicas that are produced.

During the visit - photo via Egypt's Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

Enany confirmed that work in the factory is at full swing in preparation for its imminent opening. He said that this factory will maximize the benefit from the current Egyptian technical and artistic expertise, in addition to creating job opportunities  for young talents .

Also, Enany added that this will meet the increasing demand on Egyptian antiquities replicas, which  are manufactured within the factory at the highest level of technical expertise at the hands of specialists with experience and competence.

photo via Egypt's Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

Waziri said that this factory was established in the industrial zone of Obour City in cooperation with the Egyptian Kenouz Company for Archaeological Models.

He added that it is the first of its kind in Egypt and the Middle East, indicating that it will contribute to the protection of the Egyptian cultural heritage.

Also, Waziri said that this factory will contribute in increasing the resources of the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities and thus increase the national income.

He indicated that the factory will also contribute to protecting intellectual property rights for Egyptian antiquities.

Waziri explained that every replica that will be produced in the factory will carry a special stamp of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and a certificate stating that it is an original piece, in addition to placing a barcode for easy identification, which contributes to protecting the unit from imitation and counterfeiting.