Japan grants Egypt $1.17 mln to revamp Cairo Opera House

Reham El-Adawi , Monday 3 Feb 2025

Japan has granted Egypt $1.17 million to upgrade the Cairo Opera House’s infrastructure and equipment and improve its theatre efficiency.

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Kato Ken, Chief Representative of JICA and Director of Cairo Opera House Lamia Zayed sign the agreement (photo credit of Opera House)

 

The grant was signed and announced at a press conference in the Cairo Opera House.

Minister of Culture Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, and Ambassador of Japan to Egypt Iwai Fumio attended the grant signing. 

Cairo Opera House President Lamia Zayed and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Egypt Office Chief Representative Kato Ken were also present. 

The grant, worth 180 million Japanese yen ($1.17 million), aims to revamp infrastructure, modernise equipment, develop devices, improve theatre efficiency, and elevate the audience experience.   

The Cairo Opera House, a cornerstone of Egypt’s cultural scene, was initially funded by the Japanese government as a gift following former President Hosni Mubarak's visit in 1983. 

In 1988, the Cairo Opera House hosted Japan’s first Kabuki show, a traditional theatre drama with elaborate performances in Africa and the Middle East. 

The total value of grants gifted to Egypt by Japan amounts to $2.4 billion, while development funding has exceeded $7.2 billion since 1954.

"The project is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance the cultural scene in Egypt and provide an environment that supports creativity, innovation, and artistic expression,” Hanno expressed. 

He added that the Cairo Opera House symbolises the deep cultural relations between Egypt and Japan.

Hanno also noted that the grant is a testament to Egypt's ongoing cooperation with its partners, whose support is vital to the success of this endeavour.

In her speech, Al-Mashat stressed that this agreement is a new milestone in Egypt’s long-standing partnership with Japan, which was first established in 1954 and has since flourished. 

She affirmed that the Egyptian-Japanese Cooperation Portfolio is currently witnessing diversity in cooperation areas, embodied in tangible achievements across various sectors. 

Moreover, Al-Mashat highlighted the importance of this grant, which confirms the Cairo Opera House’s position as one of the most important cultural and artistic edifices in the Middle East and Africa and celebrates its rich legacy.

For his part, Japan's ambassador said the grant continues the Japanese government's efforts to develop the Cairo Opera House and enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries in various development sectors.

Meanwhile, Ken expressed his pleasure at the press conference, thanking Al-Mashat for her efforts in paving the path for this grant.

The JICA representative added that this grant reflects the agency's commitment to promoting culture, creativity, arts, and education as key development components.

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