News Content

Egypt vows to fight terror at inauguration of New Suez Canal

THE new 30-mile Suez Canal has officially been opened by the Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi who used the occasion to underline his determination to defeat Islamist enemies who have for two years used the Sinai Peninsula as a base for attacks on the military leadership of the Arab world's most populous nation.

"History will judge that Egypt and its people confronted the most dangerous, extremist, terrorist thinking, which, had it prevailed, would have set the world ablaze,?said Mr El-Sisi in his speech, Seatrade Maritime News reported.

"We promised a gift to the world and we accomplished it in record time梐n additional artery for prosperity and for connecting civilisation to enhance the movement of international trade," he said, as the first vessel, containership CMA CGM Titan, blew its horn and passed through the canal.

Boskalis, one of the six international dredging companies that participated in the expansion project, depicted the works to deepen part of the canal to 20 metres a "race against the clock."

The Egyptian president also unveiled the Suez Canal Area Development Project, a plan to develop massive industrial and logistics zones along the banks of the canal.

"The government will immediately start its implementation by developing the East Port Said area, including the expansion and development of East Port Said harbour and the adjacent industrial area. In addition, we will upgrade the area's infrastructure and link it to other projects," the president said.

Other developments in the canal area will entail the building of an international economic zone encompassing a number of ports, new cities and logistical and trading hubs that will increase commerce between Egypt and the world.

Mr El-Sisi is also intent on constructing "a massive national road network, developing the agricultural sector with the reclamation of 420,000 hectares and building a number of new cities to accommodate population growth".

A new port is be constructed at Al Adabia, north of DP World's Ain El Sokhna facility, while new bunkering and ship repair facilities are expected to be built at Suez.