Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has stressed that the state is moving both expeditiously and enormously to realise the development and reconstruction of the Sinai, adding that existing efforts to this end will continue for years to come.
In remarks and comments he made in Ismailia Governorate on Sunday during an inspection of a line-up of equipment utilised in implementing Sinai developmental and reconstruction projects, President Sisi also asserted that the state stands keen on realising security and safety in the Sinai.
The president paid tribute in this connection to the army, police and Sinai residents for their role in defeating terrorism which disrupted development and the lives of citizens.
Thanks to God, the army, police and Sinai residents, action is under way to achieve development in the peninsula, said the president. Pointing out that the war against terrorism is not yet over, the President expressed high estimation of the sacrifices of the people of the Sinai.
During the line-up ceremony, the president called for observing a minute of silence to mourn the martyrs of army, police and Sinai residents, who sacrificed their lives for protecting the homeland.
He also called for intensified presence of state institutions in the Sinai to realise security, stability and development there as well as for sustained communication between the army, state instructions, citizens and tribe chieftains in the Sinai.
The planning of Sinai development, the president said, is by means a modest engagement but is being carried out in a way that befits Egypt.
We will move quickly so that our people in Sinai feel that the state is making every effort to implement development plans, the president said.
The state, President Sisi also emphasised, is keen on increasing Egypt’s populated areas to 12 per cent of the country’s lands through building new cities. He pointed out that Sinai’s area is about 60,000 square kilometres, which is equivalent to the area on which the population of Egypt lives.
President Sisi thanked companies taking part in the Sinai development projects despite difficult conditions, saying terrorism was not impeding the life of people only but rather development efforts.
He said attempts to block the development efforts continued, calling on citizens to be aware of such attempts despite the difficult conditions and the high prices.
The president warned of campaigns of rumours and lies that targeted the state including a claim on selling the Suez Canal.
He said that the cost of carrying out developmental projects in the Sinai would have been multiplied had they been implemented now adding that the state has a plan to provide water supplies to Mediterranean and Red Sea coastal cities by means of desalination plants.
In addition, some agricultural lands will start production by the end of this year, the president said.
President Sisi then stressed the importance of clearing the lands of Sinai from explosives within a month or two, before implementation of the development plan starts.
Emphasising the importance of Arish Port and action to expand it, President Sisi said the country aimed to have an international sea port in this place and to add it to its chain of Mediterranean ports.
The president thanked companies that are contributing to the development of Sinai, urging utmost alert for the safety of workers. He also thanked residents of Sinai for their efforts to develop and reconstruct the peninsula, and wished continued success.
