2019: French-Egyptian Cultural Year

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Jan 3 (SEE) - On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the Suez Canal in 1869, France and Egypt, at the highest level, decided to celebrate this year, 2019, the historical and cultural ties that combine them through organizing a French-Egyptian cultural year.

The French Cultural

Institute in Cairo released a statement on Thursday, announcing that the year

of 2019 will be for "highlighting the French-Egyptian mutual heritage and

cultures via boosting artistic exchanges between Cairo and Paris."

"On Jan. 8, a

unique dance performance featuring the dancers of the Paris Opera and their

Egyptian counterparts Opera will be performed at Zamalek-located Opera House in

Cairo," the statement revealed.

This year's cultural

events, covering all artistic disciplines, will continue throughout 2019 in several

cities in France and Egypt in cooperation with both the French Institute in

Cairo and the Egyptian Cultural Center in Paris.

The scheduled events

are expected to be attended by many partners from the public and private

sectors in France as well as in Egypt.

"Details of the

program will be unveiled soon," the statement noted.

Suez Canal Inauguration

It is a sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to

the Red Sea. The official opening took place on Nov. 17, 1869 under the

administration of the Suez Canal Company (1859 - 1869.)

Currently, the canal is owned and maintained by the Suez Canal Authority

(SCA) of Egypt. Under the Convention of Constantinople, it may be used "in

time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without

distinction of flag."

In August 2014, construction was launched for expansion to speed the

canal's transit time. The expansion was planned to double the capacity of the

Suez Canal from 49 to 97 ships a day.

At a cost of $8.4 billion, this project was funded with interest-bearing

investment certificates issued exclusively to Egyptian entities and

inpiduals.

The "New Suez Canal", as the expansion was dubbed, was opened

with great fanfare in a ceremony on 6 August 2015.

On 24 February 2016, the SCA officially opened the new side channel at

the northern side of the east extension of the Suez Canal.