The Launch of an Exciting and Comprehensive Tribute to Old Cairo and its Treasures

 The Sunday, 14th of February inauguration which took place in the Gamaleya neighborhood of Cairo was officially opened by Ambassador Nabila Makram Abdel-Shaheed, Minister of State of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs. 

In the Ambassadors words:

“What we are witnessing today confirms the country's success in attracting our investors abroad and is in line with the directives of the political leadership to support and promote cultural heritage industries.”

The inauguration was also attended by a number of members of the House of Representatives,  Major General Ibrahim Abdel Hadi, Deputy Governor of Cairo for the Western Region, Dr. Lamis Negm, Adviser to the Governor of the Central Bank for Social Responsibility, Ms. Rana Gohar, Adviser for Communications and External Relations for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Dr. Rasha Kamal, Director General of the Cultural Development Department and Community Communication of  the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Fathi Abdel Wahab, head of the Cultural Development Fund, Dr. Ashraf Reda, Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Plastic Arts, as well as Mr. Hatem Al-Ashry, advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Authority, in addition to a number of representatives of Egyptians abroad.

At the start of the event, the Minister of Immigration received a tour around the project premises, which include a factory and a school for old crafts, and was briefed on all the equipment present and the capabilities of the space. The Minister also witnessed a number of skilled artists specializing in engraving, sculpture, and silver, copper and leather crafts.

From Dr. Ibrahim Kassissia, founder of el Gamaleya: 

“Although I immigrated to Canada 40 years ago, Egypt is my home and my memories and did not and will not be absent from my sentiments".

He continued:

"This place where I established the project had been owned by my grandparents since the thirties of the last century, and thanks to the support of the Minister of Immigration, Ambassador Makram and her encouragement to invest in my country, I decided to return to Egypt and purchase this site again, located on El-Moezz Street in El Gamaleya neighborhood, and establish this project that houses: a factory for silver, copper, and leather crafts as well, as well as models for statues and icons. As well as a school to teach traditional Egyptian crafts and train new generations on them, with the aim of preserving such professions from extinction, within the walls of this historic street and the ancient archaeological neighborhood surrounding it.”

In her speech, Ambassador Nabila Makram welcomed all attendees and congratulated the founder, Dr. Ibrahim Kassissia, and his partners for the opening of the project.  Praising the efforts of Egyptians abroad, regardless of distances, and their participation in the comprehensive development of various fields, appreciating the role of Egyptian investors abroad, and presenting them with plans and projects for investment in Egypt.

She added,

"The project that we are witnessing today proves the success of the Egyptian state’s plans to attract and encourage our Egyptian investors abroad, and confirms that Egypt is on its way to a major economic renaissance, in which Egyptians abroad will play a prominent role."