President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi gave a speech Saturday, launching the East Port Said harbour development project, and giving the starting signal for digging to begin on a side channel to be used in the project.
The president’s speech was followed by many observers including political analysts, researchers, and political parties.
Professor of political science Youssry El-Ezbawy said in comments to Daily News Egypt that the president’s speech was enthusiastic and “carries clear signals of attempts to build Egypt in the future.”
El-Ezbawy, who is a researcher at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, further praised the president’s demands to complete the project speedily. “Speed is required at this time to resolve the economic problems that are currently faced by the state, but the accuracy factor is of great priority in the implementation of these projects,” El-Ezbawy noted.
El-Ezbawy said the impact of national projects, such as the Port Said and the new Suez Canal projects, will only be felt after years of implementation and completion.
“The president’s speech was a bit tough, unlike other speeches [of his], and unlike his usual style while talking, as he was somewhat nervous. But this reflects the general atmosphere of tension and the ongoing problems Egypt is facing,” El-Ezbawy said.
He further noted that the whole speech was organized, direct, and strong, and was very relevant to the current times, in which there are many opponents and even calls for another revolution.
“The president is expected to give speeches similar to this one in the coming days, as the anniversary of the 25 January Revolution approaches,” he said.
Further, the Republican People’s Party, headed by Hazem Omar, praised the launch of the East Port Said project, pointing out that Egypt will not achieve progress without major national projects.
Omar said, in a statement issued Sunday that Al-Sisi had succeeded in creating a sense of national unity that can only result from national projects and the people who work in these projects.
The implementation of the large sea port on the eastern side of the Port Said is a part of the overall Suez Canal Axis Development Project. The new port will include industrial, logistics, and residential zones, as well as one dedicated to fish-farming. A road tunnel will also be built under a channel to the south of the city.
