Two Better Than One: Egypt to Open New Suez Canal Thursday

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — Egypt will open the New Suez Canal on Thursday to increase the capacity of the old waterway and enable more ships to travel between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, press attaché of the Egyptian Embassy in Moscow Aiman Mousa told Sputnik Saturday.

“On Thursday, Egypt will celebrate the opening of the new 72-kilometer [44.7-mile] channel parallel to Suez Canal which was originally built 146 years ago. The new channel will allow ships to transit via the waterway in both directions. It will help to cut the waiting period from 22 hours to 11 and help to boost revenues,” Mousa said.

Hundreds of guests have been invited to attend the opening ceremony in Ismailia Governorate.

French President Francois Hollande, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, Chinese Culture Minister Luo Shugang, along with the Vatican delegation and some African leaders are expected to attend the New Suez Canal opening ceremony, according to Mousa.

During the opening ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi will pass through the new channel on a Mahroussa yacht, which was the first ship to pass through the old Suez Canal back in 1869.

The New Suez Canal running parallel to the old Suez Canal is expected to facilitate traffic in both directions, thus increasing the waterway’s capacity and boosting Egypt’s economy. The new channel is expected to provide much-needed for Egypt job opportunities, and make the country an international logistics center.