Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi toured on Wednesday the ongoing construction of the Suez Canal tunnels during his three-day stay in Ismailia governorate while attending a semi-regular youth conference, state news agency MENA reported.

The tunnels project aims to connect the Sinai Peninsula with the Nile Delta. During his visit, El-Sisi commented that the project was executed by Egyptians and that no foreign companies had been hired to complete it.

He added that construction on the project’s four tunnels would be completed by 30 June.

El-Sisi thanked the workers for their efforts, saying the project proves that Egyptians can complete big projects.

The president was accompanied by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi as well as a number of youth participating in the three-day conference, which began on Tuesday.

The youth conference sessions and workshops are planned to address issues including a recent surge in the price of foodstuffs, the government's efforts to improve the healthcare system and sustainable development in the fields of gas and power.

This month's event is the third in a series of such gatherings.

The first regular conference was held in December in Cairo. El-Sisi announced the decision to hold regular youth conferences in October, as one of the takeaways of the first annual National Youth Conference held that month.