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President Mubarak's Asian tour, which began this week, heralds new developments in the large industrial and commercial zone currently under construction in the Port Said area. The experience of China and South Korea in spearheading development through the creation of industrial zones is considered particularly relevant to developing countries like Egypt, and efforts to intensify relations further were stepped up following Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri's visit to the region last year. In May 1998, a Chinese-Egyptian project was set up in Port Said's new industrial zone. After work on the area's infrastructure is completed, a phase of industrial investment will begin. On his current tour, the president is accompanied by businessmen who will meet their counterparts in China, South Korea and Japan, where they will sign a total of 36 industrial and commercial cooperation agreements. Here, Al-Ahram Weekly zooms in on the economic potential, and historical roots, of the Canal zone, examining the East Port Said national project as well as the Suez Canal's changing fortunes
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Land of
the rising sun
As a duty-free zone, Port Said is known as the place most people go in search of low-cost imported goods. Government officials, however, want more: a new national mega-project is being implemented. Sahar El-Bahr heads east
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As long as there is trade
Few waterways have to bear so much symbolic weight, but the Suez Canal is bearing up. Aline Kazandjian does some ship-spotting
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