Mubarak-Peace Bridge inaugurated
Egypt, Economics, 10/10/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday inaugurated Mubarak-Peace bridge, which links Asia and Africa, and which was carried out in cooperation with Japan.

The inauguration was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid, People's Assembly Speaker Dr. Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Shura Council Speaker Dr. Moustafa Kamal Helmi, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Youssef Wali, Minister of Defense and Military Production, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Foreign minister Ahmed Maher, Minister of Information Safwat A1 Sherif and Ryutaro Hashimoto , the Former Japanese Prime Minister as well as State senior officials.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Transport Ibrahim E1 Demiri said the bridge, named the Mubarak-Peace bridge, and constructed in cooperation with Japan, is indicative of the deep-rooted relations binding the peoples and governments of the two countries.

He added that the giant project was part of a master plan initiated by President Hosni Mubarak to achieve comprehensive development throughout Egypt.

The Minister pointed out that about 60% of the project's cost was funded through a grant from the government of Japan.

The four-lane bridge rises 70 metres above the Suez Canal, allowing shipping traffic to pass unhindered. The project includes a nearby rail bridge of the same height.

The projects are part of efforts to encourage Egyptian to move out of the narrow Nile Valley, where most of Egypt's 67 million people live.

"With the opening of this bridge, life will change on both sides (of the Suez Canal) in that new inhabitants in the area can exploit its natural resources which have been waiting for a new generation of Egyptians," Transport Minister Ibrahim Demiri said in a speech to mark the event.

"(The Bridge) will intail an increase of the population in Sinai to 3.2 million by 2017," he added. Official statistics put the population in January 2001 at 340,000.

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