Ismailia:Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie met with Juan Pablo Richards, Region South Europe Senior Managing Director at Hapag-Lloyd, to discuss enhancing cooperation and reviewing developments affecting the Red Sea region and global supply chains.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting took place at the authority's headquarters in Ismailia governorate on October 21, 2026. Discussions focused on mechanisms for resuming Hapag-Lloyd's shipping line transit services through the Suez Canal and exploring future cooperation in maritime training.

Rabie emphasized that the Suez Canal is prepared to accommodate various shipping services, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop and modernize its maritime fleet to meet customer needs. He reiterated the canal's status as the safest and fastest route to ensure the sustainability of global supply chains despite current geopolitical challenges.

Richards commended the continuous development of navigation services in the canal, noting that Hapag-Lloyd is monitoring developments in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea to update sailing schedules as part of a phased return to full transit operations.