Major General Khaled Fouda Lectures at the BA
Posted on
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has hosted a seminar entitled “The Political Leadership's Vision for the Management and Protection of World Heritage Sites,” featuring Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda, Advisor to the Egyptian President for Local Development and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Management of World Heritage Sites. The seminar was moderated by Prof. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and attended by Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saeed, Governor of Alexandria, and Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University.
Prof. Ahmed Zayed said that Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda holds a high-ranking position through which he oversees development affairs at the local level and efforts and policies to preserve national heritage in all its material and moral forms. He added that anyone who reflects on his resume would find a wealth of education and multidimensional experience in the field of military science on the one hand, and management and governance experiences on the other.
Zayed discussed he importance of these sessions, in which senior policymakers meet with wider sectors of society, so that we can understand the State’s strategy and its major goals and objectives, with the aim of transferring experiences and evaluating benefits. These sessions also demonstrate that culture occupies an important place in the State's strategy; therefore, this approach must be developed to ensure that cultural institutions are working to serve this noble goal.
For his part, Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, expressed his delight at the presence of Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda in Alexandria, emphasizing that he has left a lasting mark on local administration. He also thanked Lt. Gen Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saeed, Governor of Alexandria, for his efforts in overcoming the recent crisis that the city of Alexandria has experienced.
Konsowa emphasized the importance of the seminar's theme, noting that discussing this topic in Alexandria calls for a discussion of the revival of the Library of Alexandria. He stated that this project is a major achievement for Egypt and a testament to the State's efforts to preserve and revive its heritage. He also said that Alexandria has several heritage sites and that the city plays a major role in the revival of heritage, with the governorate undertaking several projects to revive and preserve this heritage.
For his part, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khaled Hassan Saeed, Governor of Alexandria, noted that Egypt is witnessing a qualitative shift in the protection and development of heritage sites, pointing out that Egypt has seven sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, in addition to 32 sites on the Tentative List, reflecting the richness and diversity of Egyptian heritage.
He pointed out that the significant efforts made in the Abu Mina archaeological site in Alexandria are in line with the directives of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He mentioned that the project to reduce the groundwater level has been completed in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in preparation for the launch of a comprehensive development project that will reintroduce the site as a leading destination for cultural and religious tourism.
In his speech, Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda said that the main objective of this seminar is to transfer expertise to new generations, introduce the projects undertaken by the State in the field of heritage protection, and highlight the vital role played by the Egyptian political leadership in developing effective strategies to protect world heritage sites.
The seminar was attended by a host of public figures and those interested in culture and heritage, as well as a number of executive leaders from Alexandria, members of Parliament and the Senate, BA patrons, professors, and deans from different faculties affiliated with Alexandria University.