Luxor- Prime Minister Sherif Ismail stressed the importance of the participation of Egyptian scientists abroad in the building and development process pursued by the state.

These remarks came at the opening session of the two-day-conference “Egypt Can…with the Sons of the Nile”, which hosted more than 22 Egyptian scientists in the field of agriculture and irrigation. The conference kicked off on Sunday 25 February in Luxor under the auspices of President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi. It was also attended by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and six ministers.

The prime minister called on all ministries and government agencies to open channels of communication with Egyptian scientists abroad in all fields in order to benefit from their experiences.

Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy said, in a speech delivered on behalf of Ismail, that Egypt’s Vision 2030 was prepared with Egyptian ideas that aim to achieve sustainable development for Egypt in all fields.

Fahmy said that a legislative structure is being prepared to manage and utilise waste as well as protect environmental resources and reserves.

Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel Aaty said that his ministry has formed a working group with a number of Egyptian scientists abroad in order to benefit from their ideas, carry out institutional reforms, and restructure and fund the ministry’s projects. He also added that this would enable the state to see the early warning signs of floods and determine its overall vision for marshalling water resources.

He pointed out that the ministry administers 1,500 km of Nile River water in addition to its two distributaries (Rosetta and Damietta), alongside about 3,500 km of shoreline, 48 ​​irrigation facilities, and 3,300 wells.

He added that the electricity bill for water delivery projects is EGP 1bn annually.

He stressed that a new strategy for water resources has been prepared, involving nine ministries with investments of approximately EGP 900bn, including EGP 20bn of investments for this year’s water projects.

He explained that Egypt’s consumption of water resources amounts to about 80bn cubic metres of Nile water and rain, and that 97% of Egypt’s water resources come from outside its borders. He revealed that there is a plan to establish a navigational corridor with the Nile Basin countries to spread development among them.

Mohamed Al-Assar, minister of military production, said that his ministry has benefited from the ideas of some Egyptian scientists. He added that fully Egyptian paving equipment is being manufactured—the invention of an Egyptian scientist at a war production company. He pointed out that all the potential of military production factories are at the disposal of all government agencies in order to make the most of them, with the goal of benefitting all Egyptians.

Nabila Makram, minister of immigration, said that the conference is in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, adding that Egyptians abroad play a major role in the development process of Egypt.

Makram noted that Egypt is fighting for development the same way it is fighting a battle against terrorism, which requires the participation of all Egyptians in the homeland and abroad to realise the country’s success.