(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Few hours before the inauguration of Egypt's "new Suez Canal" waterway on Thursday, the world divides on the project's importance.
Some officials see the new passage will change the international trade and navigation measures, and will be Egypt's gift for the world, while the others expressed concerns over its benefits and environment impacts.
The new 72-km waterway, at a cost of nine billion U.S. dollars, was built in less than a year instead of the original plan of three years. It runs part of the way alongside the existing canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, and will cut the waiting period for vessels from 18 hours to 11 and increase the passing ships from 47 to 97.
Gift for the world
Finishing the project in such a short time with Egyptians' funds has made the new project a national one that signals the strong will of the Egyptians, who are facing a tough war against terrorism, poverty, ailing economy and other challenges. It impacts their hopes for a better future.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told state-run Ahram news paper that the new Suez Canal seems to him to be "an extraordinary achievement," which all the Egyptians should be proud with.
"The New Canal is a key for trade ties among the east and the west," he added.
A British official said the new water passage is not only an economic project that enhances the volume and liquidity of the world trade, but "it will open massive opportunities for the entire world" and would be also the "corner stone" for Egypt to return to play its pivotal economic, strategic and political roles in dismantling the region crisis.
Ahram quoted the official as saying, "the Egyptian market will be the biggest in region in few years due to the increase in population and eventually the increase of the purchase force which will improve the living standard and the economic growth."
The French La Tribune newspaper wrote under the title "Egypt's gift for the world" that the new water passage will reduce the waiting period and double the flexibility of the ships' movements.
The newspaper said the project inauguration proves that Egypt is on its path for economic development and political and security recovery, though the country is stilled faced by important challenges in eradicating terrorism which Egypt has been witnessing over the past four years.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Gaber, a minister of the United Arab Emirates, said the project will have positive impacts not only on Egypt's trade and economic navigation, but at the regional and economic levels.
In Washington, U.S. diplomat Stephen Beecroft said "accomplishing the project before its deadline is admirable, and proved the strong will of the Egyptians."
He added the U.S. administration, the Congress and companies are following the developments of the project and its impacts on Egyptian citizens, such as providing job opportunities, contributing economic projects and investment opportunities.
Concerns, foggy vision
Meanwhile, some experts believe the new project lacks the national soul, raising concerns over its advantages and its negative influence on the environment.
Wael Qandil, editor-in-chief of London-based Al-Arabi Al-Gadid Newspaper, said the project could not be defined as national, "because it lacks citizens' consensus."
He added that there is no obvious feasibility study on the project and its revenues.
U.S. Monitor website stated in an economic report that due to the weak growth of the world trade, there is no need currently for new canals on pretext of increasing capacity of the passing ships.
Hisham Khalil, a senior official in the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, told the website that the maximum number of the daily passing ships in 2008, before the world financial crisis, was 59, and there is no need to increase the capacity to 97 vessels now.
Wael Qador told Monitor that shortening the period of digging the new canal has doubled the cost, and that the project came while the political differences among the Egyptians have made it the new achievement "not a national project."
Scientists in the European Union have also expressed concerns on the new canal as it will make the Mediterranean Sea vulnerable to devilish sea creatures and poisonous fishes, in addition to 350 infamous species from the warm water of the Red Sea.
The old Suez Canal, which was inaugurated in 1869, has no negative effects on the environment because it was surrounded by the Bitter Lake, the very salty water of which constitutes a natural barrier for the migration of sea creatures from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean.
According to the environment scientists, the new canal is directly connected into the Mediterranean Sea, which will be dangerous to the marine creatures.
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