The Suez Canal Authority has called on Egyptians to participate in the opening ceremony of the new Suez Canal, by photographing themselves and sharing the pictures.
In a statement, the Authority said the citizens’ photographs will be used on the campaign’s website as a form of gratitude for the public support for the new canal.
The photographs will be also be put up as a mosaic to be used as the background against which President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will stand during the opening.
The New Suez Canal will be officially opened in Ismailia on 8 August. The opening campaign has drawn the attention of many people worldwide.
“The Egyptian people’s support, and their complete devotion, is what made funding the New Suez Canal possible, and allowed us to conduct its work in less than 12 months, two years before the expected date,” according to Suez Canal Authority Chairman Mohab Mamish.
Mamish said the Egyptian people played an important role in one of the most important, desirable and ambitious projects of the 21st century. These are the unsung heroes, and their efforts really deserve to be praised, Mamish said.
He added that President Al-Sisi asked the people to fund the big dream, to make the New Suez Canal Egyptian in design, funding and execution. In only six days, the Egyptian people collected around $8.5bn, and started the work on 6 August 2014.
According to Mamish, the Egyptian people will be represented through the pictures that will be shown in the opening, showcasing people’s unity in the establishment of the New Suez Canal.
