CAIRO, May 12 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi called for increasing the effective communication between the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and its clients, while enhancing its coordination with major shipping lines and relevant international organizations in times of crisis.

The president's call came during his meeting on Monday with SCA Chairman Osama Rabie and Board Chairman of the South Red Sea Shipyard Mostafa El-Dougishy, said Presidential Spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy.

The spokesman added that the president gave instructions to continue developing shipping and maritime services in accordance with the highest quality standards, and maximizing the returns of the Suez Canal, which is seen as a key driver of global trade, while focusing on creating new jobs in the shipbuilding industry.

The president was briefed on the developments of the maritime traffic in the Suez Canal and the efforts exerted to preserve the level of its marine and navigation services, despite regional and international challenges, in addition to adding a package of new maritime services and completing projects for developing the waterway.

In this context, Rabie said the project to develop the southern sector of the waterway had been finalized to become operational as of February 2025.

The SCA head also highlighted the completion of a project to construct a new water station in Ismailia with a total production capacity of 180,000 cubic meters, noting that new maritime units had entered service.

The spokesman stated that the meeting reviewed efforts to upgrade the SCA's maritime fleet, through equipping it with new and advanced units to ensure the continued efficiency and safety of navigation and keep pace with the growing growth in global trade.

The meeting also took up a plan for building tugboats and fishing vessels locally, with the use of modern technology, with a view to establishing an integrated system for the fishing industry, according to the spokesman. (MENA)

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