Egypt has inaugurated a major expansion to the Suez Canal,
totaling over $8 billion.
Taking a year to
complete, the project widens and deepens part of the canal to increase traffic
and revenue. Seventy-two kilometers (45 miles) of new waterways have been
added, according to the Suez Canal Authority.
Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi led an opening ceremony on Thursday which was
attended by several heads of state, including French President Francois
Hollande.
Egyptian
authorities have announced the expansion as a "gift" which
"changes the map of the world." The ceremony invoked both national
pride and a global outlook, including remarks by President el-Sisi, a musical
performance, and jets flying overhead.
The project is
not without controversy, however. Some have questioned whether it is the best
use of the nation's resources at a time when there are more pressing needs.
Egyptian commentators have also cast doubt on its purported economic benefits.
One of the most
important waterways in the world, the Suez Canal links the Mediterranean with
the Red Sea. It opened in 1869 after a decade of construction by tens of
thousands of workers.
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