CAIRO - A number of archaeologists have launched a project to develop archaeology in Egypt to be carried out by the new government, according to MENA. The project, which was launched under the title, ‘Egyptian Antiquities' Renaissance Project ‘ includes a plan to develop archaeology to occupy a prestigious position as one of the state's main economic sources, said Mohamed Abdel- Maqsoud ,deputy chairman of the Egyptian antiquities sector. The project aims at changing the technique of work in this field that should controlled by a specialised state security body to protect Egypt' monuments and archaeological heritage . Abdel-Maqsoud noted that the antiquities sector is facing financial problems due to the reduced number of tourists visiting Egypt during the last couple of years. The archaeologists have called for cultural tourism to be mainly based mainly on visiting monumental sites throughout Egypt. It is know the antiquities sector is self -financing , says Abdel -Maqsoud, adding that the annual revenues of the monuments normally reaches to LE1.2 billion nearly($200 million )annually. The project includes establishing a complementary industrial zone to manufacture high-quality replicas of world-famous Egyptian antiquities. This would be create up to 15,000 job opportunities indifferent specialisations Abdel-Maqsoud stressed.
