African agribusiness market expected to reach $1tr by 2030    Price cuts underway across Egypt, says trade federation report    Egypt sets $12bn target for ready-to-wear garment exports by 2031    Egypt's PM reviews plan to slash prices across key consumer goods    Zelenskyy seeks US security guarantees as Trump says he can 'end war now'    Israelis protest for hostage deal amid growing pressure on Netanyahu    Serbia's Vucic vows 'tough measures' against protesters after unrest    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Egypt joins Geneva negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty, calls for urgent agreement    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Khan endangered by the yellow peril
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 18 - 06 - 2010

HANDICRAFTS are popular worldwide, because people take a pride in their national heritage. In Egypt, many handicrafts are endangered by the dumping of Chinese goods.
Copper, silver, leather, arabesque, glass and cloth products are all
made in el- Hussein district, Islamic Cairo, by skilled Egyptian
workers. These handicrafts are then sold in the famous Khan el-Kalili
bazaar, adjacent to el-Hussein Mosque.
Because of the invasion of Chinese products, this area may lose the
countless tourists who flock here from around the world to buy
traditional goods manufactured by Egyptian artisans.
Some artisans have already been forced to close down their workshops
because of the fierce competition. They are now working as importers
or in other activities.
Hani el-Turki, a bazaar owner, says that 90 per cent of the goods sold
in Khan el-Khalili these days are Chinese.
“Only five per cent are Egyptian,” he adds. “The Chinese have become
very good at imitating our copper and silver handicrafts, embroidery,
leather products and Pharaonic-style statues,” he said.
“As well as Chinese products, goods from Malaysia and Singapore are
also constantly dumped in the bazaar. They're cheaper than the Egyptian
products, but many tourists still want the real McCoy.”
Hajj Mohamed, another bazaar owner, told October magazine
thattheChinese invasion will lead to the demise of all Egyptian
products in Khan el-Khalili, regretting that a lot of workshops have
closed and many skilled craftsmen have lost their jobs. Hajj Sayyed,
who weaves tent cloth, fears that this skill may die out, because of
machine prints replacing hand prints and because of the Chinese
imports.
“Khaimia [tent making] is an important Egyptian and Islamic
tradition,” he says.
“Copper and silver engraving could also die out – there are very few
artisans left working in this field,” according to Hussein Ibrahim,
another artisan.
Meanwhile, Hajj Hassan is proud of the fact that the Chinese have failed to make good imitations of arabesque products.
“Arabesque is very intricate work and we use pearl, not plastic, unlikethe Chinese, who also lack our accuracy,” he says, adding that another problem that the shops in Khan el-Khalili is that the raw materials have become very expensive.
Hajj Hassan argues that the Government should help them, as Khane -Khaili is an historic market that tourists love and a vital part of the nation's Islamic heritage.


Clic here to read the story from its source.