October 22, 2012

The Inauguration of the Institut d’Egypte after its Renovations

The Minister of Culture inaugurated the Institut d’Égypte after its renovation and restoration. The Institut d’Égypte burned within the Egyptian Cabinet event last December. The Minister of Culture and the head of the Institut d’Égypte praised the Armed Forces for its efforts and choosing the Arab Contractors company to execute the renovation works on a record time 3 months only with a total value EGP 6 million paid by the Armed Forces.

Eng. Abdel Latif Ghobara - AC  Board Member asserted that the AC has the honor to execute this project in cooperation with the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces. Each worker felt that it is his national role to accomplish this project. Besides, he mentioned that there is a martyr Eng. Hisham Aboul Naga who fallen down during the execution of the building. Now, his dream and our as well come true by renovating the Institut d’Égypte to enrich the cultural life in Egypt again.

It is noteworthy that the Institut d’Égypte established during the French campaign on 1798 and it was registered as a scientific monument on 1996. The fire destroyed 70% of its books, important documents and maps including Description de l'Égypte. Its walls and the roof of the second floor collapsed. Now, the institute equipped with the latest fire fighting systems, internal broadcasting, a reading hall with a total area 81m², a store for the archeological collections built on 196m², meeting room on 124m and meeting room on 124m². a number of institutions and individuals donated their libraries to the institute. The Institut d’Égypte includes more than 25000 books in Arabic, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian languages and in different fields.