Vice president Adeeb in Egypt on first official visit

Vice President Ahmed Adeeb departed to Egypt on Wednesday on an official visit to attend the inauguration ceremony of the second Suez Canal.

Adeeb was greeted upon arrival at the Cairo International Airport last night by Egyptian minister of water resources and irrigation, Hossam Mohazy.

In his first official visit since assuming the vice presidency last month, Adeeb is due to attend the opening of a new Suez Canal pathway measuring 35km – a key project in Egyptian president Abdul Fattah Al Sisi’s economic agenda.

The new Suez Canal route is expected to attract crossings of 96 ships daily, yielding US$12.5 billion yearly, compared to the original routes earnings of around US$5 billion.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 connected the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, shortening the journey between Europe and South Asia by approximately 7000km.

The Maldives Independent was unable to confirm the length of Adeeb’s visit and who he is scheduled to meet with during his trip as the President’s Office was not responding to inquiries at the time of going to press.