Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, met on Wednesday with Mario Sander, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, to explore ways to enhance bilateral collaboration in water management. Sweilem highlighted the strong partnership between Egypt and Germany, noting that several key projects have been implemented through their cooperation. These include the second and third national drainage programs, the construction of the Assiut and Nag Hammadi Barrages, and irrigation development initiatives in the Delta. Germany has also supported the Regional Training Center for Water Resources and Irrigation, and both sides aim to collaborate on future projects such as the fourth national drainage program, beach protection efforts, and the second phase of the Nile Delta Water Management Project. Discussions focused on preparations for launching the Fourth National Drainage Program, which aims to renew covered drainage across 1.4 million acres. The meeting also addressed a feasibility study for beach protection along 15 kilometers east of the Kitchener Drain outlet in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. The officials reviewed the progress of the JISA Water System and Irrigation Project, funded by the German Development Bank (KfW), agreeing to expand its scope to include rehabilitating the Ismailia Canal bridges and upgrading water infrastructure in the eastern Khandaq and Marqus Coast canals in the West Beheira Irrigation Department. They also discussed plans to improve water management in the Qota Canal in Fayoum, including modern irrigation techniques, canal rehabilitation, evaluation of pumping stations, and reuse of agricultural drainage water. Additionally, they examined the upcoming second phase of the Nile Delta Water Management Program, which will involve comprehensive water balance studies, infrastructure development, strategic planning for critical water areas, expanded agricultural drainage reuse, and capacity-building initiatives. Both sides agreed to collaborate on technical studies evaluating the transition from flood irrigation to modern irrigation systems in Egypt, considering environmental, economic, and social impacts. Sweilem reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Germany, particularly in addressing water and climate challenges. He also emphasized the importance of Germany's support for the African Center for Water and Climate Adaptation (PACWA) to provide specialized training for African experts in climate change adaptation and water resource management.
