Egyptian cultural bureau celebrates New Suez Canal opening

Egypt's Ambassador to Kuwait Abdel Karim Suleiman opened a documentary exhibition on the New Suez Canal on Friday.

Dubbed "People's will," the exhibition was held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Culture bureau in Kuwait city.

A live broadcast of the inaugural ceremony of the new waterway was screened at the exhibition.

Seliman said that the participation of many world leaders in this historic occasion confirmed the political, economic and commercial importance of the New Suez Canal at the regional and international levels, he added.

This historic event affirms that the Egyptian people are able to do miracles, the diplomat said.

The New Canal will increase the number of ships passing through the canal and convert Egypt into a global logistic center, he further said.

The new 72-kilometer waterway, built in less than a year at a cost of 60 billion EGP, runs part of the way alongside the existing canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

The legendary project was mostly financed by investment certificates sold to Egyptians.

The new canal, which consists of 37 kilometer of new, parallel waterway and 35 kilometers of deepening and widening of the existing canal, will cut the waiting period for vessels from 18 hours to 11.