Hisham Okasha, chairperson of the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), signed a cooperation agreement with Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, to participate in the development of select archaeological sites.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Antiquities Khalid El-Anany and Nermin Shehab Eldin, head of the marketing, corporate communication, and community support programmes at the NBE, along with a number of leaders of the Ministry of Antiquities and the NBE.
According to El-Anany, the development projects of some archaeological areas emanate from a desire to redirect attention to the historical monuments of Egypt, which are a key factor in the country’s tourism industry.
According to Okasha, the NBE is the main supporter of the state in all fields, the most important of which is the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Therefore, the bank sponsored projects to develop certain monuments in cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities.
He added that the areas to be developed include the Pyramids of Giza, the Temples of Phila and Abu Simbel in Aswan, and the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, which are globally renowned sites and are hotspots for tourists from around the world.
“The NBE is keen to participate in the development process adopted by the Ministry of Antiquities in order to reflect Egypt’s unique tourist attractions, which will be greatly reflected in stimulating the tourism industry and reviving the national economy,” Okasha noted.
