Alexandria 8 December 2005 —BA is organizing a conference in collaboration with the Suez Canal Organization and the Association of friends of Ferdinand De Lesseps during the period from 11 to 12 December 2005, titled "Suez Canal—Cities born of the desert". Over the two days the conference will be discussing the foundation and development of cities around the Suez Canal from several points of view; architecturally, economically and culturally. The conference will also compare the technology used to build the canal in the second half of the 19th century with the technology being used to widen and the canal in order to keep up with the growing amount of traffic.
The conference will also be discussing the canal"s role in the Egyptian economy both through the direct revenue it generates as well as economic activity it creates within the major cities of the Canal (Port Said, Al Ismailiya, El Suez).