The head of Egypt's financial watchdog stressed on Wednesday that the new Suez Canal, to be inaugurated on Thursday, is not only a waterway but an economic and development artery.

"There are some landmarks in the history of nations and this giant project is a landmark in the history of Egypt which is of the same importance of the old Suez Canal built during the era of Khedive Ismail,
Hisham Geneina said in an interview with MENA.

Egyptians' support of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi when he announced plans for building the 72-kilometer-long Canal brings to the mind the popular support Egyptians showed to late President Gamal Abdel Nasser when he stood against the international community and nationalize the Suez Canal and build the High Dam, he said.

He hoped that the Suez Canal would not be the end of the road but would be the start of the journey of a thousand miles.