President El-Sisi Visits SCA and Maritime Training and Simulation Center

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi paid, this morning, a visit to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) in Ismailia, during which he inspected the Authority’s Maritime Training and Simulation Center. The President inspected the Suez Canal to ensure the normal resumption of traffic in this waterway after maintaining a smooth marine traffic flow on the Canal.

The Prime Minister and a number of senior statesmen were present during the President’s visit.

The President thanked the employees of the SCA and praised their honorable performance and the efforts they exerted to refloat the stranded ship.

His Excellency added that these efforts reflect the considerable experience and capabilities the employees of the SCA have. They contributed to ending this crisis with minimal losses despite the magnitude of the problem.

President El-Sisi stated that he was following up on the developments of the stranded ship with SCA Chairman and Managing Director Admiral Osama Rabie. His Excellency stressed that the Suez Canal is important to global trade flows and that it is capable and competitive.

The President thanked the brotherly and friendly countries that offered support and assistance to Egypt during this crisis.

the ship’s grounding in the Suez Canal. This crisis demonstrated the Egyptians’ great love for their country despite all the difficulties. It also showed their keenness to maintain peace in their beloved homeland, Egypt.

The Egyptians always stand by their country and behind their leadership; a highly appreciated gesture highlighting the Egyptians’ awareness, the President stressed. Hence, Egypt could overcome all crises and challenges during the past seven years.

The President stressed the importance of drawing lessons from this crisis, directing that all the needs and requirements of the Suez Canal Authority be provided, whether equipment or devices, regardless of their cost.

After that, President El-Sisi held an international press conference, during which he confirmed that the investigation into the crisis is a purely legal and technical matter. His Excellency added that the investigation is carried out by the concerned authorities without any interference with the aim of exploring the reasons for the ship’s grounding.

President El-Sisi explained that he had an uneasy feeling about this crisis as it has to do with Egypt's reputation.

His Excellency also stressed that he called for providing all the equipment needed to be ready for any scenario and to solve this crisis, regardless of the cost.

In the same vein, the President stressed the importance of taking the necessary measures to prove that the Suez Canal is strong and capable of performing its role as a global sea lane.

The President also affirmed that Egypt attaches great importance to ports. He declared that "Berenice" Port and "Gargoub" Port will be ready to open soon. This is in addition to a number of ports that will be completed within two years, namely the ports of (Sokhna, Alexandria, Abu Qir and Damietta), in order to link the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

Regarding the Renaissance Dam crisis, President El-Sisi stressed that Egypt chose the path of negotiation in accordance with international covenants and laws. Such despicable and odious hostile acts soiling our nation have had a negative impact for several years.

The President further asserted that Egypt's water is a red line that cannot be crossed and compromising it would plunge the entire region into a state of instability.

With regard to the project aimed to develop the Egyptian countryside, the President demonstrated that the project aims to create an infrastructure in all fields for nearly half of Egypt; all ministries are involved in its implementation.

The President indicated that 1.5 million feddans would be planted entirely within two years, demonstrating the state’s efforts in the field of water treatment to make it suitable for agriculture in the "New Delta" project, in accordance with global health standards.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed the developments of the railway system, explaining that the state conducts development work without disrupting the movement of trains so that citizens’ movement would not be affected.

At the end of the press conference, the President went on a cruise in the Suez Canal.