Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said his government is keen on providing all safety procedures at all work sites nationwide amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has taken a heavy toll on the country’s day-to-day business and life. 

 

El-Sisi said in a speech during the inauguration of a number of national projects east of the Suez Canal that the country was keen on providing necessary protection for labour. 

 

“I deliver this message to our labour… We will protect [our labour force] more with coordination with the health ministry, companies and the defence ministry, so we can complete the work,” he said. 

 

El-Sisi urged citizens seeking work to “head to the New Administrative Capital, Rashid, New Mansoura and New Alamein,” citing job opportunities in the new cities. 

 

He also highlighted the development of Egypt’s road network, which includes 40 new highways, estimating the cost at around EGP 12 billion to EGP 16 billion. 

 

“The government is working day and night to accomplish aspired growth rates, which were deeply affected due to the current circumstances,” he said, stressing that his government is determined to continue work at the same rates or even more. 

 

Wednesday’s event saw the inauguration of the last phase of drilling at the Suez Canal’s strategic Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel 2. 

 

The tunnel will be opened on June 2021. 

 

Meanwhile, Major General Ihab Mohamed Al-Far of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, said the tunnel saw “unprecedented rates” of construction.

 

He said the new tunnel would contribute to boosting trade movement to South Sinai. 

 

In 2019, the president inaugurated four new tunnels passing under the Suez Canal. He inaugurated in Port Said the two 3rd of July tunnels in November, each for one direction of traffic, linking Port Said with Sinai.

 

The inauguration of the 3rd July tunnels came seven months after the opening of Ismailia's two tunnels passing under the Suez Canal.

 

According to Arab Contractors Company, one of the 3rd July tunnels' construction companies, the tunnels facilitate the movement of individuals and goods to and from Sinai, and aims to create the desired development for that region in parallel with the development currently taking place in Sinai and the canal area.