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"The initiative is a societal participation from the company to renew and revive this bridge which is a historical monument transferred to Damietta with careful scientific planning in an engineering epic presented by Dr. ElBaradei”, stated Dr. Manal Awad.

On the sunny morning of Wednesday the 28^th of July 2021, Dr. Manal Awad, Governor of Damietta, signed a cooperation protocol with Prof. Hisham Nour El-Din, Chairman of the Misr Fertilizer Production Company "MOPCO" for the rehabilitation and development of the historic Damietta Bridge, as a community participation from the company, at the Egyptian Public Library – Damietta.

“The governorate has sought for years to develop the bridge and restore its prominent role, which was achieved after its transfer in 2007 with careful scientific planning and an engineering epic presented by Dr. Mohamed Fathi ElBaradei, the former governor of Damietta” commented Dr. Manal Awad.

She added,” The Civilization Bridge was considered a cultural beacon and a center for displaying the colors of the arts, before it was neglected and vandalized during the events of the January 2011 revolution” pointing that
these efforts included setting a specific methodology for developing and rehabilitating the bridge to restore its cultural and civilizational status. Also, that its exploitation will achieve the implementation an integrated project that would benefit the governorate, in a way that contributes to the revitalization and promotion of tourism in Damietta. In accordance with the directives of the political leadership and state agencies to pay attention to archaeological sites as a pivot of great importance that contributes to strengthening local economies.

The "Governor of Damietta" added that with the entry of the bridge into the counter of Islamic and Coptic antiquities, according to Resolution No. 35 of 2013 issued by the Ministry of Antiquities, the importance of finding a specific mechanism for its rehabilitation became inevitable, especially that it is one of the most important demands of the people of the governorate.Her excellency emphasized that “ according to the protocol signed with MOPCO, the renovation works will be implemented as a new community participation from MOPCO to support projects of public interest on the land of the governorate. “MOPCO has achieved many initiatives to implement projects in Damietta, the most important of which was the establishment of a sewage lifting station Abdul Qader 2 and the purchase of a large number of hygiene equipment in the governorate” Added her Excellency.

To conclude her speech, the Governor of Damietta confirmed that the governorate had planned to renovate the bridge to restore it to its original state after it was moved it to its current location to make it a beacon of culture and arts in Damietta. She ended her speech by thanking Dr. El Baradei for his keenness to preserve the important historical impact of the Civilization Bridge by a genius engineering plan, and also thanked MOPCO for the support they provide to serve the governorate.

On his part, Nour El Din expressed his happiness in cooperating with Dr. Manal Awad to serve the governorate and its citizens, congratulating her for the great efforts she made towards the advance of Damietta Governorate and the vital projects on its land. He also expressed his pride in what Damietta has achieved to in comprehensive development, and his pride in the participation of MOPCO, which is a 100% Egyptian company, in developing and rehabilitating the Civilization Bridge to restore its status for the charming city of Damietta.

Dr. Manal Awad, accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MOPCO and Major General Mohamed Hammam, Secretary General of the Governorate, visited the bridge to develop a plan for its development in proportion to its various parts and its historical value. The construction of the bridge dates back to the nineteenth century, specifically in 1890 AD in Imbaba area, Giza governorate. Parts of it were moved and built in Damietta governorate in 1927 AD, however, its condition deteriorated and traffic was prohibited.

Dr. ElBaradei issued Resolution No. 5 of 2007 to preserve the Bridge from any harm and to prepare a project to preserve for its renovation. The Bridge was equipped and moved with great skill that preserved its parts in front of the Egyptian Public Library in Damietta, to follow its administration, and to become a center and an archaeological cultural beacon in the governorate.