A new canal will be dug alongside the historic canal — the fastest shipping route for a significant portion of international trade between Europe and Asia, which generates US$5 billion in revenues. Sisi [Egypt President] emphasized the need for Egyptian citizens to contribute to the military-run project, which he asserted would be completed in one year. “We want all Egyptians to hold shares in this project," the president declared, urging citizens living inside Egypt to contribute LE100, and expatriates to give US$100. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb held a press conference...in which he announced investment certificates in both Egyptian pounds and US dollars for the New Canal...the certificates would be issued through public sector banks, the CBE, the Banque du Caire and Ahly Bank over a period of 5 years, with a 12 percent interest rate cashed every 3 months.