The successful completion of the Suez Canal project is a proof that popular participation is a prerequisite for the success of government programs. However, more effort to engage with the public is much needed Egyptians are entitled to celebrate the completion of the Suez Canal project. It is undoubtedly an enormous achievement, and has generated significant enthusiasm from the outset, as well as funding by bond holders in huge numbers. Finishing on time, and within such a short period has evoked the pride and confidence in the country meeting tough challenges given dedication, determination, and popular support. This "can-do" confidence is the main cause for celebration among most Egyptians. It also offers a lesson on the importance of popular participation and mass support as a prerequisite for the success of government policies and programs. However, for this enthusiasm and popular support to continue, the Egyptian people must be treated as a genuine partner in all the issues and challenges facing the state, not only this project, and not as audience. To this end, I have three specific proposals: The first concerns information about the Suez Canal project. The state relied on Egyptians' excitement and faith in those executing this megaproject, and consequently did not feel obliged to give the public enough information about it. The result has been a torrent of exaggerations and misperceptions, from critics and supporters alike. This can be rectified if the government, to mark the completion of the dredging of the new canal, dispelled all ambiguity and announced the total cost of the project, major expenditure items, the anticipated returns on the canal in coming years, and the assumptions on which these projections are based. Such disclosure is necessary to preclude more rumors and put a brake on overoptimistic assessments of the project's positive impacts, thus forestalling unrealistic expectations. The second proposal concerns the other - more significant - project associated with the canal: the development of the Suez Canal Zone, which will begin when the President gives the green light upon completion of the new channel. This project offers a real opportunity to kick start the Egyptian economy and opens the door to major investments in industry, storage, logistical services, and tourism. It could lead to the establishment of new communities linked to these promising economic activities, rather than simply building cities in the desert, and provide millions of jobs for young people in various fields. But none of this will happen simply by rezoning the area and issuing a new law offering additional benefits to investors. And the last thing we want is for this new industrial zone to be divided among a handful of major companies by direct order in pursuit of speed and efficiency. This project requires the participation of the entire society, which needs to understand and believe in it, confident that the state has considered the project's social and environmental dimensions, identified funding sources, and will execute the project with transparency and through the competitive distribution of opportunities, land, and resources. We do not want this megaproject to go the way of others in the past, becoming another occasion to exploit influence, information, and connections while excluding the mass of Egyptians from benefiting from it. The development of the Suez Canal Zone is key to improving Egypt's future, and its success depends on the state's commitment to transparency, good governance, and social participation. The third and final proposal relates in general to the way in which major national issues are addressed. The media reports that the Suez Canal celebration will bring several surprise announcements. Surprises are well and good, but it's time for the state to stop surprising the public with projects, laws, initiatives, and programs—even good ones—and start engaging in partnership and dialogue, welcoming different opinions and responding to questions and proposals. True, participatory governance requires more effort to engage with the public, its reactions, and at times its opposition, and thus project implementation may be delayed. But the result is that the people take part in decision making, share responsibility for success or failure, and defend state efforts to implement agreed upon plans. In normal conditions parliament would be the place to discuss policies, programs, and laws. But until we elect a parliament, the state can reach out to organizations, parties, syndicates, and universities, all of which hold reservoirs of expertise and knowledge that the country needs. Soliciting society's input in policies and programs and its oversight in implementation can be an exhausting process, but the rewards are well worth the effort. *** Congratulations on the completion of the Suez Canal project and kudos to all those who contributed to it with their dedication and enthusiasm. The writer holds a PhD in financial law from the London School of Economics. He is a former deputy prime minister, former chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority and former chairman of the General Authority for Investments. This article was published in Arabic in El-Shorouq newspaper on Tuesday, 4 August. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/137070.aspx
