Chairperson of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), Osama Rabie, has called on global shipping leader Maersk to gradually resume transits through the Suez Canal, underscoring the waterway's central role as a vital artery for international commerce and a long-standing partner for major shipping lines. The appeal was made during Rabie's meeting with Danish Ambassador to Cairo, Lars Bo Møller, who was joined by a high-level delegation and SCA Vice Chairperson Ashraf Atwa, at the Authority's headquarters in Ismailia. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and exploring new avenues for joint development. Rabie expressed pride in the enduring partnership between the SCA and Maersk, which has yielded significant successes in recent years, including major development and expansion projects. He highlighted the imminent inauguration of the new expansion at the Suez Canal Container Terminal in East Port Said as a milestone achievement. The SCA chief also pointed to the Authority's broader strategy of advancing ambitious projects in maritime industries and logistics services. He stressed that the Canal's unique geographic position continues to offer unparalleled opportunities for creating added value through global trade, especially amid ongoing challenges in international shipping. Discussions also addressed recent developments in the Red Sea and their repercussions for maritime transport and supply chain resilience. For his part, Ambassador Møller reaffirmed the importance of the SCA-Maersk partnership and praised the expansion at the Suez Canal Container Terminal, noting that it would significantly boost East Port Said Port's competitiveness. The project, he said, would help transform the port into a leading regional hub for trade and development, while reinforcing the robustness of global supply chains. Møller further emphasised the inevitability of major shipping lines returning to the Suez Canal, describing it as "the main gateway for global trade." He revealed that Maersk is closely monitoring the situation in the Red Sea as it prepares for the eventual resumption of regular transit operations through the Canal.
