Arab League (AL) Secretary General Nabil el Araby on Friday congratulated Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and the Egyptian people on the inauguration of the New Suez Canal.

The AL chief also congratulated the Egyptian government and all the Arab peoples, pointing out that such project would enhance joint Arab cooperation.

El Araby voiced hope that the new canal would help the Egyptian people in achieving the targeted economic goals.

He praised efforts exerted to plan, fund and implement such mega project in just one year.

Sisi inaugurated Thursday the New Suez Canal amid a great celebration, attended by world leaders.

The new 72-kilometer waterway, dug in less than a year at a cost of 60 billion pounds, runs part of the way alongside the existing canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

The legendary project was financed by investment certificates sold to Egyptians.