Overview
Bali, Indonesia, May 18-25, 2024 —
In a significant stride towards enhancing international cooperation in water management, Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, met with Mrs. Meika van Genken, the Dutch water envoy, to discuss ways to bolster collaboration between Egypt and the Netherlands. This important meeting took place on the sidelines of the “Tenth World Water Forum” held in Bali, Indonesia
The discussions were fruitful, focusing on several key areas of mutual interest and future collaboration. Notably, the meeting aimed to arrange a session of the Egyptian-Dutch Higher Water Committee, scheduled for next July, to review progress in technical cooperation and discuss the extension of the memorandum of understanding between the two countries. This session will be pivotal in ensuring continued and enhanced bilateral cooperation.
Furthermore, the recent meetings of the Alliance of Deltas and Coastal Regions (IPDC) were a topic of discussion, with Dr. Sweilem highlighting Egypt's aspiration for the coalition to provide funding to countries for implementing projects that adapt to climate change and protect coastal areas. This aspect is crucial for mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change on vulnerable coastal regions.
During the meeting, Dr.Sweilem also reviewed the achievements under the umbrella of the Water-JCAR Applied Research Program between Egypt and the Netherlands. He expressed his desire to establish a long-term scientific partnership spanning ten years while considering the launch of a second phase of the program. This initiative aims to ensure the sustainability of applied research cooperation, building on the significant studies already conducted and facilitating further advancements in water management.
In addition to these discussions, the ongoing arrangements for the COP29 Climate Summit and the “United Nations Water Conference 2026” were reviewed. Dr. Sweilem emphasized the necessity of coordination between countries to leverage these international events to serve water and climate issues on a global scale. He reiterated the importance of international cooperation in addressing these pressing challenges.
3Reflecting on the meeting, Dr. Sweilem remarked, "The collaboration with the Netherlands in water management has been exemplary, and through continued efforts and extended partnerships, we can achieve substantial progress in addressing the global challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity.
JCAR project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Egypt.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Basma Ibrahim, JCAR communication Expert
+201017165517