The Conference and exhibition, was held by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in cooperation with the Association of Ferdinand de Lesseps for the Suez Canal. The exhibition was about the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, with facsimile pictures of that important event. The conference with the theme of From the Opening of the Suez Canal until the Opening of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina covered aspects of the Suez Canal construction and subsequent impact on Egypt and the region. Special related events addressed Ahmed Youssefs book Seven secrets of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, as well as relations between Egypt and France.