Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam met on Tuesday French Ambassador for Climate and Environment Barbara Pompili on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Mongolia.
The two sides discussed preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference and initiatives aimed at boosting investment and financing in the water sector.
Sewilam stressed Egypt’s support for mobilising greater investment in the water sector, particularly through innovative financing tools, public-private partnerships and the development of financial mechanisms capable of attracting investment and ensuring the sustainability of water services.
He said such efforts would help make the 2026 UN Water Conference more focused on implementation and investment, translating international commitments into tangible projects on the ground.
The minister also discussed the status of joint co-operation projects with the French side, particularly through the French Development Agency (AFD), including the Fourth National Sanitation Programme, the Delta Barrages Automated Operation Control Project, and the Strategic Plan for Rehabilitation of Pumping Stations.
