Press Release

The Egyptian-Japanese archaeological mission headed by Dr. Sakuji Yoshimura, President of Higashi Nippon International University and Professor Emeritus of Waseda University had completed the excavation of the second Khufu Boat from the pit in which it was discovered beside Khufu pyramid in Giza Plateau, thus ending the largest operation of discovering and extracting the second Khufu boat.

Director General of Executive Affairs for Restoration at the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the supervisor of the restoration work of the second Khufu Boat, Dr. Issa Zidan, explained that nearly 1,700 wooden pieces were extracted from 13 layers inside the pit, noting that the registration and documentation of all pieces have been done, as well as the initial restoration of most of these pieces was completed.

He also added that so far 1,343 pieces were transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where preparations are underway for starting the second phase that include the final restoration work, as well as conducting the necessary studies for assembling and re-installing the boat that will be displayed next to the first one inside the new building dedicated for King Khufu's boats, which is now being constructed at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Mr. OMURA Yoshifumi, the Chief Representative of JICA Egypt Office, said that JICA is to provide a $3 million grant for completion of the final restoration work and reassembly of the boat for its display in the museum, in addition to the $2 million grant that was provided in 2013, which supported the excavation and extracting works of the wooden pieces of the boat from the pit.

The project of restoring and extracting the wooden pieces of the second Khufu Boat is one of the largest restoration projects that represent the aspects of fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Japan, with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Cooperation between the Egyptian and Japanese in the Grand Egyptian Museum project started in 2006, when JICA provided financial support through two soft loans of official development assistance for construction of the museum at the request of the Egyptian government.

Since 2008, JICA has been providing technical cooperation through the Egyptian-Japanese joint conservation project for the restoration, documentation, packaging and transfer of 72 artifacts among which some of King Tutankhamun's collection, from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and other sites to the Grand Egyptian Museum. About 90 Japanese experts participated in this project, and a number of high-tech technical equipment were provided within the project, such as digital microscope, portable X- ray machine and an electric forklift to carry heavy artifacts safely.

H.E. Ambassador Masaki NOKE expressed his appreciation for the fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lead by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled El-Enany and the sincere efforts of Major General Atef Moftah, General Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum project and Surrounding Area to realize such progress in GEM, stressing that the Grand Egyptian Museum is a symbol of Egyptian-Japanese friendship.

From his side, Mr. OMURA Yoshifumi, Chief Representative of JICA Egypt Office expressed appreciation for the Egyptian government's strong leadership in making such great progress in the GEM construction and related works towards its opening, emphasizing that he is proud that JICA takes part in preserving the world's treasures in Egypt to the future generations through the GEM project.

The forklift in use at the Conservation Center

Artifact transfer from the Egyptian Museum

Restoration work of Second Solar Boat

Excavation site of Second Solar Boat after all pieces were extracted