By Ameera Fouad
Slated for August 6, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will give the start signal for the New Suez Canal inauguration in the presence of several world leaders and country’s envoys and delegations. Though it had not been confirmed for all world leaders who would attend the ceremony and who would not, some, we all know, is coming for sure and has confirmed.
Well, but before going international, let us go for those Egyptians who will be able to attend the opening ceremony which was all funded by public donations and contributions from the dredging companies responsible for digging the new channel.
As a remarkable step to let Egyptians fairly attend the ceremony, the Suez Canal authority held a lottery for all Egyptians through an application to be completely filled via the Facebook official page and the Suez Canal authority website.
Egyptian attendees will be selected from a pool of Egyptian citizens who applied to participate in the ceremony. The application process was open to all Egyptian governorates and the application could be found on the New Suez Canal’s website.
To what has been described as a massive turnout and a positive response from the people of Egypt , the application was closed and the citizens were fairly chosen .
Also , a number of invitations will be reserved representatives from various institutions and civil society organisations. In addition, the Egyptian presidency is the one responsible for the invitations.
On the international level,
China
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA or MFA) of the Government of the People’s Republic of China will send the Culture Minister Luo Shugang as a special envoy from the Chinese president Xi Jinping, upon receiving an invitation from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Sudan
The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will lead a high-ranking delegation to Egypt to attend the inauguration ceremony of the New Suez Canal.
France
In a statement issued by the French presidency Elysee, last Friday, it has announced officially the visit of French president Hollande to Egypt to attend Suez Canal inauguration ceremony as a guest of honour.
French presidency added, that French president visit to Egypt will be an opportunity to discuss with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, many issues of common interest on the bilateral and regional level.
Russia
Egypt’s ambassador to Russia Mohamed Abdel-Sattar El-badry said in a statement to the Russian News Agency that Egypt deliberates creating a team in its embassy in Russia to attract the Russian businessmen to invest in the new Suez Canal projects.
He also added that this team would be created in order to boost the cooperation between Egypt and Russia and to provide the Russian businessmen with all information needed about that project.
It is also believed that the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Anatolyevich will attend the inauguration of the New Suez Canal.
Turkey
Turkish Foreign Ministry sources in Ankara told the press that a Turkish representative, possibly the chargé d’affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Cairo, Alper Bosuter, will attend the ceremony.
Mali
Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has expressed his strong will to attend the ceremony of the inauguration of the New Suez Canal. In a press conference to MENA Agency , he said that he promised to attend the opening ceremony to strengthen the ties between Cairo and Bamako.
Greece
The Greek Ambassador to Egypt last Sunday Christodoulos Lazaris that the Prime Minister of Greece will attend the inauguration with a highly prolific political and economic Greek figures. He also said in a press conference that Egypt will play a major role on the international arena .This project will pave a way Europe markets though also Piraeus port.
Cyprus
In an interview with Middle East newspaper, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said the New Suez Canal is a legendary project that has been achieved in no time. It won’t only be a great triumph for Egypt but to the whole world, as well.
“I commend the president’s efforts to revive the economy, including the promotion of investments and the stimulation of labour-intensive sectors—such as the Suez Canal and other major projects.”
“President El-Sisi should also be praised for his efforts to enhance security and stability in Egypt as well as the whole region with his various initiatives aiming at greater cooperation of the moderate regional forces and at facilitating the solution of longstanding and complex disputes.”
India
Upon President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi invitation to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the inauguration of the New Suez Canal, an official statement from the Cabinet was issued that Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari will represent India at the inaugural ceremony of new Suez Canal in Egypt on August 6, 2015.
The statement read as “In view of India’s traditionally warm and friendly ties with Egypt and to reinforce New Delhi’s continued high-level engagement and political commitment to Egypt under El-Sisi government, the Prime Minister has nominated Mr Gadkari to represent India at the event.”
Korea
South Korean news agency (Yonhap) has reported that Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, “Yu Jie Jon”, some ruling party parliamentarians, Bussan Middle East and Africa affairs coordinator, Foreign affairs Middle East and Africa coordinator” Yu Sung-Jon” will attend the ceremony.
