The Hague: Europe and the Arabs

Ambassador Emad Hanna, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to The Hague, inaugurated the annual Heritage Art Exhibition organized by the Textile Research Center (TRC) in Leiden, Netherlands. This year's exhibition was dedicated to the history of the Egyptian tent-making craft. According to a statement published on the Egyptian Embassy in the Netherlands' website, the Ambassador, in his opening remarks, discussed Egypt's rich cultural history and ancient civilization, which has inspired the world throughout the ages. He expressed his delight that Leiden was hosting this distinguished exhibition, which highlights the tent-making craft as a unique human heritage reflecting the creativity and authentic identity of Egyptian artisans.

The opening was attended by a group of orientalists, journalists, and those interested in the textile industry. A researcher from the center gave a presentation on the art of tentmaking in Egypt and its development from the reign of the golden king Tutankhamun, through the Umayyad and Fatimid eras, and subsequent historical periods, culminating in the modern era. She highlighted its importance in Egyptian cultural life and some of its techniques and uses.

The Textile Research Center is an international research institution specializing in the study of textiles and fashion. It houses a large and diverse collection of over 53,000 pieces of heritage textiles from around the world, including more than 1,200 Egyptian pieces, encompassing traditional clothing, embroidery, and handwoven textiles. In other news, the embassy stated that Ambassador Emad Hanna, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to The Hague, had recently visited the Port of Rotterdam, where he met with the Director of International Relations to discuss ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in the green hydrogen sector and port-related logistics. The meeting also addressed potential areas of cooperation to support international shipping and trade, given the rapid geopolitical changes the world is witnessing and the resulting fundamental shifts in global supply chains, considering the growing importance of the Port of Rotterdam as one of Europe's largest seaports.

In this context, the Ambassador discussed the role of the Suez Canal Economic Zone as a key logistics hub supporting the integration of global supply chains and connecting production markets with consumption areas. This strengthens Egypt's position as a regional center for transport and logistics within global supply chains and paves the way for fruitful cooperation with the Dutch port.