Ecuador has erected a replica statue of ancient Egyptian King Ramses II in a main square in the country’s capital Quito, Egypt’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.

The six-metre statue, which was gifted by Egypt to Ecuador in November, was erected in a ceremony attended by top Ecuadorian officials in Quito's Condado Square, which has been renamed Egypt Square.  

The statue’s placement in the square, one of the largest in Quito, is expected to attract tourists to Egypt, Egyptian ambassador to Ecuador Abdel-Moneim Omar said.

Omar said the move aims at “boosting tourism and promoting ancient Egyptian history.”

The statue was created by artisans at the Egyptian antiquities ministry's replica department.