ISMAILIA, Egypt, Nov 18 (NNN-XINHUA) – Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA), celebrated on Sunday, the 150th anniversary of the Suez Canal’s opening.
Speaking at the celebration, held at the SCA premises in Ismailia, Chairman of the SCA, Osama Rabie, expressed pride of the Suez Canal’s vital role, since its inauguration in 1869, until this day, in serving world trade and developing the shipping industry.
“The Suez Canal has always been given the complete focus of the Egyptian government, throughout its history, through adopting a series of developmental projects in the waterway, and the highlight of those is the New Suez Canal project,” he said.
The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It was opened for navigation in Nov, 1869, after 10 years of construction.
The Suez Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world, since it allows ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa, thereby reducing the sea voyage distance between Europe and India by about 7,000 km.
In Aug, 2015, Egypt opened a new 35-km waterway alongside the original 190 km Suez Canal, plus a 37-km expansion and deepening of parts of the existing one.
The new artificial waterway, which is part of a larger project to expand Suez port and shipping facilities and build large industrial zones, is designed to raise Egypt’s international profile, and build the nation as a major trade hub.
The SCA chairman said, 1.3 million vessels have transited the Suez Canal since its inauguration, with 28.6 billion tonnes of cargo on-board, and generating revenues amounting to 135.9 billion U.S. dollars.
“The statistics of financial year 2018/2019, showed the transit of approximately 19,000 vessels holding 1.2 billion tonnes of cargo on-board, and revenues of six billion U.S. dollars,” he revealed.
Rabie stressed that the SCA is a full-fledged institution of an economic and development nature and a leading social role in the Canal region.
Rabie also highlighted SCA’s interest in developing its work methods through digitalisation of all operations, with focus on administrative reform, boosting performance, and empowering the youth.– NNN-XINHUA
