“I call for expanding European financing to include farmers, contractors, and suppliers of modern irrigation equipment,” Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam said, urging European financial institutions to broaden their funding scope in Egypt’s water sector.
Speaking at the “EU-Egypt FLOW Initiative: Financing Long-Term Opportunities in the Water Sector” roundtable during the 9th Cairo Water Week, Sewilam called on European institutions to provide the necessary technical assistance to prepare bankable projects. The session, which aimed to convert cooperation opportunities into executable and fundable projects, included representatives from the European Union, European financial institutions, and Egyptian banks.
Highlighting the country’s water challenges, the minister noted that Egypt relies on the Nile River for 98% of its freshwater resources, with average annual rainfall remaining below 20 millimetres and desert areas covering more than 95% of the country. Consequently, he stated that investing in water represents an investment in food security, climate change resilience, public health, and social stability.
Sewilam outlined the Water Resources Strategy 2050 and the Second Generation Water System 2.0, which aim to modernise infrastructure, enhance smart management, implement digital transformation, and expand agricultural drainage water reuse through plants such as New Delta, Bahr El-Baqar, and Al Mahsamma.
To encourage private sector participation, the ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance’s Central Unit for Public-Private Partnerships to draft regulatory guidelines. Additionally, the ministry is working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on a feasibility study for partnerships in pumping stations, evaluating the technical, institutional, financial, and operational aspects to ensure financial sustainability and protect the public interest.
Sewilam identified Egypt’s 33,000 kilometres of canals and approximately 600 pumping stations as promising investment opportunities for infrastructure modernisation. He emphasised the ministry’s shift towards preventive maintenance, long-term planning, and the use of real-time monitoring and digital technologies to direct investments to high-priority areas.
The minister also highlighted the role of Egyptian banks in supporting local investors and small and medium-sized enterprises, noting that water user associations will be leveraged to reach local beneficiaries. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to cooperating with the EU, international financial institutions, and the private sector to convert shared priorities into tangible investments.
