Egypt’s long-planned Grand Museum will be managed internationally – Minister

Egypt’s long-planned Grand Egyptian Museum will have an independent, international directorship in an effort to overcome bureaucracy, antiquities minister announced.

Egypt’s antiquities minister, Mamdouh el-Damaty said Tuesday the awaited museum near the Pyramids of Giza will be “independent” from the Egyptian government. He spoke at a news conference near its 120-acre construction site.

Former antiquities minister and famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass told The Associated Press in June that the museum must be international because “government routine cannot work for museums.”

The Egyptian government is trying to revive its battered tourism industry after four years of turmoil.

Only a short portion of the museum’s foundation has been built so far. It was originally scheduled to already have opened but was repeatedly delayed over what the government said was lack of funds.

Source: The Associated Press