Water Resources Minister Hani Sweilem, Industry Minister Khaled Hashem and Minister of State for Military Production Salah Gomblat met at the Ministry of Water Resources in the New Administrative Capital to discuss establishing a comprehensive framework for sustainable water management in the industrial sector.
Sweilem emphasised that water must be treated as a strategic resource, with industrial expansion aligned to efficient use, recycling and value maximisation. He noted that Egypt’s water needs exceed available resources, making reuse a cornerstone of national water policy. He called for feasibility studies of industrial projects to include precise assessments of water requirements, sources, efficiency and recycling systems.
Gomblat highlighted the role of Military Production companies in manufacturing and supplying components for water treatment and desalination plants, supporting industrial facilities to adopt advanced systems for conservation and recycling. He pointed to the importance of applying the “water footprint” concept to Egyptian products to boost competitiveness, and stressed the need for governance mechanisms to monitor consumption and expand closed‑loop water systems.
Hashem underlined the responsibility of industry as a driver of sustainable development to safeguard natural resources. He referred to the “Sun of Industry” initiative promoting solar energy use in factories, alongside efforts to spread closed water cycle systems. He proposed forming a joint committee with the ministries of water resources, housing and industry to study water conservation in factories.
The ministers agreed to establish a joint working group to prepare a package of measures for sustainable water management in industry, covering project site selection, water needs, efficiency standards, treatment and recycling requirements, licensing and monitoring mechanisms. The meeting also reviewed the legislative and institutional framework, and discussed advanced concepts such as water footprinting, closed‑loop systems and zero liquid discharge technologies.
