Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities, represented by the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority, is set to announce in a press conference to local and international companies and consortiums the opening of a pre-qualification stage for those hoping to bid for the contract to manage and operate facilities at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Complex in Giza. The conference will be held at the GEM on Sunday 10 June at 11:00 am. The event will be hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation and the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism. Supervisor-General of the GEM Tarek Tawfik told Ahram Online that in order to qualify, companies must possess previous experience in the management of such facilities. The GEM's facilities include a conference center, cinema, restaurants overlooking the pyramids, food courts, bookshops and other retail, a traditional arts and crafts centre, a multifunctional building and large open areas available for events. Tawfik said that the Ministry of Antiquities is the only authority responsible for the management and security of GEM‘s treasured collection as well as anything related to antiquities, such as the exhibition halls, maintenance and restoration centre and the children's museum. During the conference, the ministry will announce a logo for the museum, which will be used in the GEM's promotion campaign in Egypt and worldwide. The shape of the logo was inspired by the architectural design of the museum, Tawfik said. The GEM Complex is a cultural institution located on an area of approximately 500,000 m2, adjacent to the Pyramids of Giza. It includes one of the largest museums in the world displaying the heritage of a single civilization. The museum will contain over 100,000 artifacts, reflecting Egypt's past from prehistory through the Greek and Roman Periods in Egypt, covering an area of 92,000 m2. Construction work on its first phase is scheduled to be completed by end of 2018 and to open within the first quarter of 2019, at which point the entire funerary collection of King Tutankhamun will be put on show for the first time ever, displaying more than 5,000 artifacts. The atrium and the grand staircase will also be displayed in the first phase and feature the colossus of King Ramses II and the King Meneptah Column, as well as a collection of 87 other large royal colossi and architectural items.
