Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aati and Namibian counterpart Carl-Herman Gustav probed Wednesday the results of a technical meeting between specialists from both countries for cooperation on remotely monitoring and operating groundwater wells.
The ministers met on the margins of the 4th edition of Cairo Water Week, which kicked off on Sunday under the aegis of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and will wrap up tomorrow.
The specialists had also discussed cooperation on smart rainwater harvest and irrigation systems during their technical meeting, the results of which are to be considered while drawing up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two countries will sign in the near future.
Asserting the need for a legally binding coordination mechanisms between countries sharing the same river basin, Gustav said he understands the concerns of downstream countries – Egypt and Sudan about any unilateral actions taken upstream Nile countries.
The ministers also discussed ways to promote the role of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to address water-related challenges in the continent, especially under Namibia’s current chairmanship of the council.
Egypt is expected to take over the AMCOW’s presidency in 2023.
The AMCOW was formed in 2002 in Abuja, Nigeria, primarily to promote cooperation, security, social and economic development and poverty eradication among member states through the effective management of the continent’s water resources and provision of water supply services.
