(AFP PHOTO/MARWAN NAAMANI)
Imports of products that have features of Egyptian folklore and antiquities are to be banned, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour announced Saturday.
The ban aims to preserve Egyptian heritage and folk art as well as protect the intellectual property rights of Egyptians.
Engraved products, sculptures, ceramics, clay figurines are among the banned products. Wooden products, metals, gems, carpets, musical instruments and architectural forms that have Egyptian features will also be banned.
Chamber of Tourist Antiquities member Hussein Al-Gabry previously stated that at least 7,000 bazaars were shut down out of 14,000 licensed bazaars during 2014. He added that those that remain open only remain because the owner does not pay rent.
“Chinese goods and antiquities are scattered in the Egyptian bazaars for two reasons; the first is the cheap prices and low cost of importing these goods, and the second reason is that the tourists who visit Egypt are less affluent than previously,” said Chairman of the Chamber of Tourist Antiquities, Mohammed Al-Qattan.
