CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi stressed on Sunday that water is on the top of Egypt’s priorities, saying Nile water accounts for up to 98% of its water resources. The River Nile is the prime source of water in Egypt, therefore, safeguarding this vital source is an existential imperative that requires unwavering political commitment, diligent political efforts and collaborative partnership with brotherly countries to ensure achieving our shared aspirations
President Sisi delivered a speech on Sunday at the Opening of the seventh edition of Cairo Water Week held under the theme of “Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities”.
Cairo Water Week coincides this year with the “Africa Water Week” and the “Africa Hydrological Conference”, which serves as a valuable opportunity to engage in in-depth deliberations on critical water issues in the continent.
Grounded in its profound commitment to its African identity, Egypt has adopted a multitude of water-related initiatives and programmes for the continent. Egypt’s current chairmanship of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) is a further testament to its commitment. As chair, Egypt seeks to promote regional collaboration on water issues and strengthen member states’ efforts toward fulfilling the water-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Additionally, Egypt is fostering closer bilateral cooperation in the domain of water with a number of African countries, notably Nile Basin countries. Egypt is actively funding and implementing a range of water projects, including well drilling, waterway clearing, establishing rain prediction centers, port rehabilitation and rainwater harvesting dams.
Water is the basis of any progress and development, Sisi said, calling for prioritizing the water issue on the international agenda.
Sisi welcomed attendees of the seventh edition of Cairo Water Week, saying the event has become an international platform that aims at exchanging expertise, building partnerships, boosting scientific research and encouraging innovation in the water resources management.
Despite grave challenges in the world, Egypt was determined to hold the event on time due to the importance of holding discussions on water resources management in light of growing water scarcity and uncalculated establishment of giant projects on international rivers with no consideration to water safety and sustainability and the principles of international law that necessities exchanging information and conducting necessary studies to guarantee basic needs of humans without harming any side.
He said this edition coincides with the African Water Week and the African Hydrologic conference, thus giving a momentum to water-related discussions at continental level.
He said Egypt is enhancing cooperation with a number of African countries, especially Nile-basin ones, citing Egypt’s efforts in digging wells in a number of African countries, cleaning water courses, setting up rain prediction centers, building rainwater harvesting dams and rehabilitating ports.
He called on the international community to increase its support of African efforts in the water resources management domain as well as provide necessary finance and technology to carry out projects and programs aiming at achieving food security as well as development and peace in Africa.
At the end, he hoped the event will come up with recommendations capable of pushing forward water issue on the international agenda in a way that boosts African countries’ aspirations for development and prosperity.
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