Chief of Staff of the Army's Engineering Authority Major Kamel El Wazeer stated Thursday that 90% of the new Suez Canal digging phase was finalized, 220 days remaining for the completion of the entire project. El Wazeer affirmed that the first phase of the new Canal's dry digging is expected to be completed in 2-3 weeks, as 169 million cubic meters were dug after 145 days of work, adding that 23,000 engineers, technicians and drivers are working at the site. The project, funded through granting investment certificates to Egyptians with 12% returns, aims at expanding the Suez Canal capacity as an industrial and logistic center to serve global commerce.