<img class="imgleft lazy" alt="Egypt, a new water policy” title=”Egypt, a new water policy” src=”https://static.italiaoggi.it/content_upload/img/2642/94/2642943/1-img955061.jpg”/>
Projects for water collection, well drilling, stations for the purification and distribution of water resources, weather centers for forecasting rainfall, dams and other infrastructures for water control. In total, there are approximately 400 projects that Egypt has implemented or will implement on its own in the Nile basin. A real water policy illustrated by the Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, which reflects the importance of this waterway for Africa. The river, in fact, touches seven countries and its catchment area extends over three million square kilometers and touches four other African nations: with this project Egypt is therefore trying to extend its action and influence across this entire area.
This week, Minister Sweilem participated in the Water Investment Forum between Egypt and the European Union, as part of Cairo Water Week. The Egyptian government, as Egypt Today recalls, adopted an action plan last Wednesday to create a mechanism to finance studies, implement development and infrastructure projects in the Nile basin countries in fulfillment of the directives of President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi. In the face of climate change and geopolitical tensions, the Nile represents a diplomatic, political and economic driving force: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated that the operation is part of the Egyptian development strategy in Africa: the country wants to strengthen its ties with the Neighboring states, in particular those of the Nile basin, primarily through economic collaboration, activating multilateral partnerships.
In Cairo, Sweilem met with Stefan Gumpert, director of the World Bank in Egypt, to examine the “Climate Resilience through Agricultural and Food Transformation” project, financed by the World Bank. The project includes the development of the irrigation system in an integrated way, starting from branch canals and arriving at the application of modern agricultural irrigation systems, starting from drip systems. The aim is to support farmers’ production capacities, reuse agricultural drainage water, taking into account environmental, social and economic factors and sustainability standards.
