Antiquities Minister Khaled El Enani underlined the importance of the Alexandria International Conference on Maritime and Underwater Archaeology, which is held for the first time in Alexandria. 

As many as 25 researchers from 11 countries, including the US, Russia, Egypt, Japan, France and Tunisia, are taking part in the conference. 

During the inauguration of the conference at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on Monday, Enani said that the researchers who are taking part in the conference represent major international universities. 

The conference comes as part of promoting cooperation between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Antiquities Ministry on the occasion marking the 20th anniversary of establishing the administration of underwater archaeology, he added. 

Alexandria has an administration of underwater archaeology, which contributed to exploring several archaeological wealth, he said.