The cost of establishing the Grand Egyptian Museum exceeded US$1 billion, 75 percent of which was paid by Japanese loans to the Egyptian government, Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany said. Anany pointed out that 10 Japanese archaeological missions belonging to Japanese universities and archaeological institutes are currently operating in Egypt. The Egyptian Antiquities Ministry is currently intensifying its efforts to complete the transfer of antiquities from the Egyptian Museum located inside Tahrir square and other archaeological locations to the Egyptian Grand Museum, which is still under construction. According to the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, the Egyptian Grand Museum will comprise 100,000 artifacts; only 42,000 pieces have been transferred to the museum so far. Anany stated previously that the Grand Egyptian Museum will be opened by mid-2018, adding that the total cost of the construction process of the establishment will be LE20 billion.

Source: Egypt Independent October 31, 2017 10:30 UTC