The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a documentary film entitled "10 Years of Achievements."
Following the film, Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals and
Executive Vice President of A.P. Møller–Maersk, delivered a speech. Svendsen
commended the pivotal role of President Sisi and Egypt in hosting the Sharm
El-Sheikh Peace Summit, underscoring this as a reflection of effective Egyptian
leadership in supporting stability in the Middle East.
He also highlighted the fruitful cooperation between the
Suez Canal Authority and the company, which has yielded tangible positive
results throughout the company’s years of operation in Egypt. Svendsen
announced the company's intention to increase its investments in Egypt in the
coming period and thanked the Egyptian government for the facilities provided.
In the same context, Olivier de Noray, Chairman of the Suez
Canal Car Terminal Company (SCAT) and CEO of AGL Ports, expressed his
appreciation for the President's vision and determination in executing the
SCZONE project, which has transformed the economic zone into a strategic
gateway to Africa and the surrounding regions.
He affirmed that the SCAT company, with its projects in
Egypt, will become a platform for car production and export to the world.
Following his speech, the Car Handling Terminal was inaugurated via video
conference.
Tarek Fathy, Chairman of the Egyptian Sky Ports Group of
Companies, also delivered an address, emphasizing that the group's projects in
Egypt would contribute to transforming the country into a global logistics hub.
Following his remarks, the Multi-Purpose Terminal was also inaugurated via
video conference.
Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, Official Spokesperson for the
Presidency of the Republic, stated that the celebration included a documentary
film about the integrated East Port Said zone, followed by a presentation by Walid
Gamal El-Din, Chairman of the General Authority for the SCZONE.
Gamal El-Din confirmed that the current year is exceptional
for the Authority, noting that East Port Said Port is ranked as the first
container port in Africa and the third globally. He lauded the President's
vision for establishing the SCZONE despite challenges and thanked the state
agencies for their efforts in developing and securing the related facilities
that connected the East and West banks of the Canal, thereby contributing to
attracting more investments. He also reviewed the Authority's investment
attraction strategy.
He pointed out that from 2016 to 2025, the SCZONE provided
over 136,000 direct job opportunities and attracted total investments of $11.6
billion, with a focus on localizing industry, including in green hydrogen
production, in line with Egypt's National Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy. Gamal
El-Din concluded his speech by presenting the President with a souvenir—a model
of a Pharaonic ship.
Finally, Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime
Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport,
delivered a speech reviewing the state's strategy for port development. He
stressed that Egypt has become a regional center for transport, logistics, and
transit trade. He noted that, as part of implementing the strategy, 14 ports have
been developed and five new ports established within a comprehensive plan
targeting Egypt as one of the world's most important centers for transport,
logistics, and transit trade.
During the ceremony, President Sisi intervened, affirming
that the achieved development work was the result of a joint effort. He
highlighted the promising opportunities Egypt enjoys thanks to its
distinguished geographical location and the presence of the Suez Canal as a
global shipping lane.
Addressing the inauguration of new maritime terminals in
East Port Said, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi acknowledged that there were challenges
in 2015 obstructing the execution of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE)
project. However, he stressed that the joint will and hard work enabled the
state to achieve its intended goals.
Sisi underscored the necessity of striving for Egypt to
attain its natural position among nations, especially in the field of transport
and logistics. He thanked the Maersk company for fulfilling its commitments and
expressed Egypt's anticipation for the company and other investors operating in
the country to increase their investments. He affirmed that the state would
provide all relevant facilities to achieve this.
The President called for achieving and completing projects
at faster rates, stressing that Egypt today is witnessing the fruit of
achievements across the ports, railways, roads, axes, and energy sectors.
He also commended the support and resilience of the Egyptian
people in facing challenges, calling for continued dedication and sacrifice to
achieve more accomplishments for the benefit of current and future generations.
The ceremony concluded with a commemorative photo featuring the President alongside the Ministers, leaders, and members of the global Maersk company.