Cairo: The Canada-Egypt Business Council (CEBC) and the Egyptian Council for International Cooperation (ECIC) hosted a high-level seminar in Cairo titled 'Water Challenges in Egypt: Causes and Solutions,' where Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Hani Sewilam outlined the ministry's strategy to achieve water security. The seminar brought together government officials, lawmakers, and business leaders to discuss one of the nation's most pressing issues: water security.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the seminar highlighted water as a crucial issue for development and the future of the Egyptian people. Chairman of CEBC Engineer Moataz Raslan emphasized the global water scarcity crisis, affecting nearly four billion people annually, and noted the additional challenges posed by climate change and population growth. He pointed out that Egypt's unchanged Nile water quota and significant population growth have resulted in severe water scarcity, with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) being a significant challenge.
During the event, Dr. Hani Sewilam presented a comprehensive strategy titled 'Turning Challenges into Investment Opportunities.' His strategy focuses on modernizing irrigation, expanding desalination projects, and enhancing international cooperation. Key initiatives include the reuse of agricultural wastewater, the scaling up of desalination projects, and the deployment of advanced water management technologies.
The strategy also encompasses digital transformation with new applications to aid farmers, infrastructure upgrades, and climate change risk mitigation efforts. Governance reforms are integral, with stronger legislation and grassroots initiatives to protect water resources. Sewilam highlighted awareness programs and international platforms as essential components of elevating water issues on the global agenda.
Senator Abdel Salam El-Gabaly from the Senate's Agriculture and Irrigation Committee stressed the importance of political leadership and government-backed reforms in addressing the crisis. He advocated for increased agricultural wastewater reuse and emphasized the need for alignment between executive actions and parliamentary support.
The seminar concluded that addressing Egypt's water challenges requires government action and increased private sector involvement. Participants called for innovation and investment in implementing the national strategy. The CEBC and ECIC play vital roles in promoting economic relations and facilitating dialogue on major development challenges.