German delegation participating in canal celebration

Germany’s participation with a high-level delegation led by Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel in the opening of new Suez Canal is meant to show Berlin’s solidarity with Egypt and its economy, German Ambassador in Cairo Hansjorg Haber said.

During a press conference at the German embassy, Haber said the German delegation will be visiting Egypt for one day only, so there will be no chances for it to meet with Egyptian officials.

The German envoy described the canal project as a great achievement for Egypt’s future.

Germany, the third largest commercial country worldwide, is a partner to Egypt and is keen on offering logistic facilitations in the Suez Canal region, he said.

Berlin is also keen to support different rising economic sectors in Egypt, he said, noting that the volume of trade exchange reached 4.4 billion euros annually, he said.

He said the focus should not be directed to large German companies, such as Siemens, to invest in Egypt but special care should be given to small and medium-sized companies as well, he said.

On 5 August 2014, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi launched the new waterway project, which is being dug alongside the Suez Canal. It is meant to add an extra lane to the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important thoroughfares for trade, in an attempt to increase the number of ships using it each day.

The Suez Canal, which allows ships to travel from Europe to Asia without navigating around Africa, only provides for one-way traffic, with occasional room for ships to pass each other. The new lane will allow ships to travel in both directions.