Cairo: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting on Monday to discuss strategies for leveraging the sunken antiquities in Abu Qir Bay. The session included Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Admiral Ahmed Khaled, Governor of Alexandria, Rear Admiral Dr. Samah Suleiman, Dr. Mohamed Ismail, Major General Mahmoud Al-Masry, Major General Hassan Abdel Azim, and other relevant officials.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the Prime Minister stressed the significance of using the submerged relics of Alexandria's Abu Qir Bay to bolster the tourism sector, recognized as a promising component of Egypt's economy. Dr. Madbouly suggested conducting a detailed inventory of these antiquities and explored ideas such as establishing an underwater museum or displaying retrieved artifacts in traditional museums.

The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities underscored the ministry's efforts to preserve these submerged treasures, with ongoing initiatives by the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Dr. Mohamed Ismail elaborated on the council's work with UNESCO and other partners to assess the feasibility of an underwater museum and the regulations required.

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities outlined the existing guidelines for handling submerged relics, particularly their extraction from Abu Qir Bay. He noted the potential for further discoveries in Egyptian waters and highlighted several exploratory missions underway.

Governor Khaled discussed potential collaborations with international partners for archaeological explorations. He suggested proposals for showcasing the sunken artifacts to enhance Alexandria's tourism appeal, including utilizing specific sites as diving attractions.

Prime Minister Madbouly concluded the meeting by instructing officials to prepare an inventory of artifacts suitable for retrieval and develop a strategy for their extraction and museum display. He also called for a vision to identify tourism sites for diving purposes to view these relics, with a plan to be presented within a month.

The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities committed to developing the required vision, including a study of potential diving sites and artifact retrieval locations, in line with UNESCO's established regulations.