Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Swilam, underscored on Wednesday the importance of Egypt’s strategic partnership with Spain in advancing co-operation across the water sector, particularly through joint projects and initiatives addressing development challenges.
He also emphasised the role of water as a cornerstone of food security and the importance of harnessing Spanish expertise in water desalination for food production, alongside expanding the transfer of specialised technologies for diverse water-related applications.
The minister remarks came as he participated in a session entitled ‘Egyptian-Spanish Co-operation: Developing the Water Sector’, highlighting opportunities to deepen bilateral collaboration in water management, desalination and food security.
The session was held as part of the ninth Cairo Water Week, currently undergoing in Egypt.
The minister noted that the elevation of Egyptian-Spanish relations to a strategic partnership during the visit of the King of Spain to Egypt in September 2024, accompanied by the signing of a partnership programme for 2024–2028, provides a strong foundation for enhanced technical and institutional cooperation.
This framework supports the implementation of practical projects with tangible development outcomes.
He also highlighted the importance of co-operation across the water-food nexus, including water production for food, the exchange of technologies and expertise, and the application of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus approach, which contributes to Egypt’s efforts to achieve food security.
Minister Swilam stressed the value of research aimed at reducing the energy costs of desalination while maximising the economic benefits of food production.
Furthermore, he emphasised strengthening technical co-operation between educational and research institutions through knowledge exchange, practical training, specialised skills development, collaboration among research groups, and the cultivation of national expertise in desalination.
Such efforts, he noted, would facilitate technology transfer and support the development of innovative models for water-related projects.
