EGYPT-RAMADAN LANTERNS Egypt's decision to ban import of heritage-related products sees increase in local produce

Record ID: 149556

  • Title: EGYPT-RAMADAN LANTERNS Egypt's decision to ban import of heritage-related products sees increase in local produce
  • Date: 28th May 2015
  • Summary: ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT (MAY 26, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LANTERN SHOP LANTERNS TRADITIONAL EGYPTIAN LANTERNS AND IMPORTED LANTERNS VARIOUS OF TRADITIONAL METAL LANTERNS TOY SHOP SMALL LANTERNS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF A LANTERN SHOP, IHAB MAHMOUD, SAYING: "This year we are talking about handmade Egyptian products more because imports are weaker than any other year. We a
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3NPOJ8ERIEWT9WMVQ7SX3GCH5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A decision by the Egyptian government to ban the import of heritage-related products has increased the production of local lanterns ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
    The law, decreed on April 4 by Minister of Industry and Trade, Moneer Fakhry Abdel Nour, aims at "protecting national folklore and heritage from imported replicas".
    The decree stated a number of products that are subject to the ban including any product that is made of wood, metal, clay "depicting popular arts" but remained ambiguous in what may specifically be considered "popular arts".
    With Ramadan looming, the decree is having a direct effect on vendors selling products related to the holy month, especially the "Fanous" or the Ramadan Lantern.
    One shop owner, Ihab Mahmoud has already put the "Fanous" on show for the Islamic holy month, set to begin on June 17.
    Mahmoud says this year will see more of the Egyptian homemade lanterns than the usual Chinese imported products.
    "This year we are talking about handmade Egyptian products more because imports are weaker than any other year. We are trying as hard as we can to work with handmade products. We are working with wooden and metal products more so that Egyptian production increases," said Mahmoud.
    Recently plastic-made imported products have served as the lantern for younger generations but Mahmoud asserts that wooden and metal lanterns are making a comeback.
    "The basis of Egyptian heritage is the metal lantern, the metal lantern that can hold a candle like this one. The candle is placed from the bottom and when we were younger we used to hold it and play with it. This is the basis of Egyptian heritage. Nowadays when foreigners come to Egypt they look for it. They look for the Islamic design. We started developing over the years the lanterns and this year the wooden lanterns are starting to appear. The handmade wooden lanterns just like this one."
    Ramadan lanterns have been used for many years and have gradually become the main ornament marking the arrival of the season.
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