Assistant Minister of Interior Maj. General Sameikh Abu Shady toured on Saturday the security checkpoints in Suez city and the southern entrance to the Suez Canal ahead of the inauguration ceremony planned to be held on August 6.

The assistant minister followed up security measures adopted to maintain safety of the waterway.

Suez Police Chief Maj. General Gamal Abdel Barei accompanied Abu Shady.

Egypt will inaugurate the New Suez Canal on August 6, which will massively increase the capacity of the existing canal and offer an important opportunity to boost the country’s struggling economy.

Called the Suez Canal Corridor, the 72-kilometer new project involves a 37-kilometer new waterway and deepening and expansion of the existing 145-year-old Suez Canal along a 35-kilometer stretch.