Japan and Egypt work to boost ties via tourism, education, and cultural exchange

Egypt and Japan announced that they are ramping up their collaboration in various fields, particularly tourism, education, as well as culture and the arts.

New commitments and agreements have been made between the two nations following a recent slew of high-profile visits and meetings.

This week, Egyptian minister of tourism and antiquities Sherif Fathi formally welcomed the new head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s office in Cairo, Yu Ebisawa.

The meeting was held at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) to commemorate a key milestone in Egyptian-Japanese cooperation.

A long-standing partnership

The discussions between the ministry and JICA centred on boosting bilateral relations between their countries via tourism promotion, the preservation of cultural antiquities, as well as improving vital capacities in the field of archaeology. 

For his part, Fathi lauded Japan for its support of GEM’s work, pointing out how the museum will serve as a premier research facility for Egyptology, as well as the world’s largest archive of Egyptian artefacts.

The minister likewise highlighted upcoming collaborations, including continued work on the GEM’s ambitious research strategy. 

Ebisawa, on the other hand, congratulated his counterpart for the strides made at the museum.

The new country director emphasised JICA’s dedication to projects that promote cultural preservation. 

Discussions between the parties also touched on increasing Japanese tourist visits to Egypt and leveraging the latter’s expertise in archaeological restoration.

Japan’s commitment to preserving Egypt’s cultural landmarks further covers a recent US$1.17 million grant to revive the Cairo Opera House. 

The grant will fund infrastructure improvements and state-of-the-art equipment upgrades in key theatre facilities, enhancing the visitor experience and elevating Egypt’s cultural stage.