Ashraf AboArafe
Lieutenant General **Osama Rabie**, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), received **Michele Quaroni**, the Italian Ambassador to Cairo, on Tuesday at the Authority’s headquarters in Ismailia to explore avenues of cooperation in maritime tourism and shipbuilding and maintenance.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rabie emphasized the Authority’s commitment to reinforcing its strategic role in global supply chains and international trade between East and West. He highlighted the importance of strengthening ties with international maritime partners and clients.
Rabie pointed to the SCA’s continuous efforts to adapt to the fast-evolving maritime transport industry, particularly by responding flexibly to the current challenges in the **Red Sea region**. This includes maintaining open and effective communication with all relevant stakeholders and addressing customer needs in a way that ensures mutual benefit.
As part of these efforts, Rabie announced the implementation of a **15% discount** on transit fees for **container ships with a net tonnage of 130,000 tons or more** (loaded or empty), effective from **Thursday, May 15, 2025**, for a period of **90 days**. This initiative responds to the demands of shipowners and operators and aims to encourage major shipping lines to resume transits via the Suez Canal amid improving security conditions in the Red Sea.
The Chairman also outlined the Authority’s ambitious strategy to modernize its maritime and logistical services and expressed a strong interest in forging new partnerships with leading Italian companies in the maritime sector.
For his part, Ambassador **Michele Quaroni** praised the deep-rooted cultural and historical ties between Egypt and Italy and reaffirmed his country’s interest in enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in economic and maritime domains.
He expressed Italy’s keen interest in developments in the Red Sea, given the strategic significance of the Suez Canal to global trade, and voiced hopes for continued stability and a return to normal navigation levels through the Canal.
The ambassador commended Egypt’s efforts to restore peace in the Red Sea region and its ongoing calls for diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts. He also showed interest in enhancing cooperation with the SCA in areas such as **shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance**, especially within the Authority’s shipyards.
Additionally, Quaroni highlighted Italy’s interest in promoting **maritime tourism**, including encouraging **Italian yachts to transit through the Suez Canal** and dock at its marinas, rather than sailing around the Cape of Good Hope.
The visit concluded with a tour of the **Suez Canal Museum** and the **Suez Canal Yacht Marina** in Ismailia.
