Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awarded Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa the Order of Friendship in recognition of the ministry’s efforts to support bilateral relations between Egypt and Kazakhstan in the field of tourism and antiquities, as well as the ministry’s efforts over the years to complete the restoration of Al-Zahir Baybars Mosque.
The order was handed over to Minister Issa by the Kazakh ambassador to Egypt, Kairat Lama Sharif, on Tuesday.
Sultan Baybars Mosque in Cairo was reopened in June following 16 years of restoration jointly funded by Egypt and Kazakhstan.
Baybars (1260-1277), was the fourth Mamluk Sultan of the Bahri dynasty (1250-1382) of Egypt and Syria. He was of Turkic Kipchak origin.
The event was held at the ministry’s premises in the New Administrative Capital.
Minister Issa said that Kazakhstan is one of the most important markets exporting tourism to Egypt.
“Over 130,000 Kazakh tourists visited Egypt in the last 7 months.”
