Today, following a long meeting with top officials of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), newly-appointed Minster of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim told reporters that under his tenure Egypt’s antiquities will be managed differently.

“I will focus my work more on archaeologists than on archaeology,” he asserted, explaining that “this doesn’t mean that I will neglect archaeology; on the contrary, protecting Egypt’s heritage is an obligation.” He added that when the skills and knowledge of archaeologists are better developed, Egypt’s heritage will be better preserved.

During the meeting, Ibrahim told officials that restoration work will be carried out by the SCA’s own restorers and not outside consultants. He also announced that in he will soon inaugurate such projects as the Serapium Necropolis in Saqqara and the Crocodile Museum in Kom Ombo, helping to boost tourism to Egypt.

Ibrahim called on antiquities leaders to periodically inspect archaeological sites and museums falling under their responsibility, and not to stay in their offices in isolation from field work. He also asked site leaders to develop plans detailing their own vision regarding sites under their responsibility, including current information on budgets, goals, obstacles, and the timeline of each project.

In order to push forward with construction work on both the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking Giza Plateau and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, Ibrahim will organise workshops to map concrete plans for the conclusion of these projects.