On January 9, 1997, new life was pumped in veins of Egypt, when President Hosni Mubarak gave the go-ahead and paid his first visit to the mega national project of Toshka with a view to creating new Delta in the south-western desert of Egypt.

The go-ahead was meant to establish another civilization parallel to that of the Nile Valley. It is a really far-sighted vision.

The project of the new Delta, Toshka, includes digging new canal with the aim of transferring Nile waters to feed hundreds of thousands of feddans in the west of the Nile Valley, and consequently creating new communities to absorb some five million Egyptians.

Such gigantic scheme, in fact, enables Egypt - during the project's first phase - to cultivate near half a million feddans with Nile waters. Obviously, the target of such hoped-for project went further beyond tradition; as it envisioned new urban, industrial, agricultural and tourist communities, easing pressure on the narrow valley. Not to mention the spacious green plot to be added to Egypt's land.

The ultimate goal is to establish new civilization, hence the South Valley is part and parcel of an integrated investment map targeted to unleash Egypt's prospects at all walks of life. The project's first step was taken through digging Sheikh Zayed Canal, the Canal named after UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan thanks to his relentless efforts to further development projects in Egypt.

The canal streams from the north of Toshka spillway, Lake Naser, largest artificial lake created behind the High Dam to accommodate access to water from Egypt's annual 55.5 billion cubic meters share of the Nile waters, to the new valley oases through three phases.

The first phase extends for 30 Km, 21 Km of which were already completed, while the digging works of the rest 9 Km are underway in a race against time, as performance rate hit 140%, 40% more than scheduled.

The first phase, as tailored, aims at adding 25% to Egypt's green land, cultivating half a million feddans through utilizing all available resources of water.

Currently, the Egyptian Survey Authority is providing maps of Sheikh Zayed canal's route and of areas decided to be reclaimed through aerial surveying and photographing and surveying available for investors who yearn for taking part in such gigantic project.

As for the second phase's digging works, they are to be extended along 350Km to reach the south Oasis of Paris in order to irrigate 200,000 feddans in the East Owainat area. To crystallize the aspired-for new Delta, the third phase was penciled to feed near 500,000 feddans through extending the canal with the aim of reaching both Al-Khargha and Al-Dakhla.

Undoubtedly, this project is to completely alter aspects of life in 41% of Egypt's area through changing the promising areas in this integral part of Egypt into population-attractive spots, adding new virgin arable plot to Egypt's green land starting with half a million feddans to reach more than two million feddans all located south of the valley.

Tourism boom is, also, expected, as the south Valley abounds in invaluable treasures of ancient monuments together with several potentials; therapeutical tourism and safari that have not been yet optimally utilized, but will be.

Believing in development as the best way to realize prosperity, and living no stone unturned to have such project bears fruit, President Hosni Mubarak paid the gigantic project of Toshka four field tours to follow up, in person, digging works and to give great momentum to the stead-fast Egyptians who found nothing more enjoyable than turning the yellow desert to green. Image is bright and future is better. Happy birthday to Toshka.