Nitin Gadkari to represent India at New Suez Canal Inauguration in Egypt

Indian Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari is to represent his country at the inaugural ceremony of new Suez Canal in Egypt on August 6, 2015.

Egypt president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the inauguration of the new Suez Canal, an official statement from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said Monday.

“In view of India’s traditionally warm and friendly ties with Egypt and to reinforce New Delhi’s continued high-level engagement and political commitment to Egypt under Al Sisi government, the Prime Minister has nominated Mr Gadkari to represent India at the event,” the statement said.

Egypt late last month began the trial runs of new Suez canal ahead of the formal inauguration on August 6.

Dubbed as Suez Canal Axis, the 72-kilometre project is aimed at speeding up traffic along the existing waterway by reducing the waiting period of vessels, as well as boosting revenues for Egypt.

The project will run part of the way along the existing canal that connects Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

source: India Times