Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty witnessed on Tuesday the signing of a cooperation protocol between Egypt and the Netherlands in the field of water resources.
The protocol was signed by Ragab Abdel Azim — the Undersecretary of the Irrigation Ministry and Supervisor of the minister’s office — and Han Maurits — the Netherlands’ Ambassador in Cairo.
Abdel Aty stated that Egyptian-Dutch cooperation in the field of water is a model for cooperation based on equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect, adding that the signing of this programme aims to strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries in light of the similar challenges that the two countries face in the field of water resources.
He also noted that signing the protocol emphasises both sides’ eagerness to increase cooperation in the field of water resources and awareness of the great potentials of bilateral technical cooperation in water matters.
The minister added that the programme includes strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the Netherlands in the areas of planning and management of water resources, achieving the principles of integrated management of water resources stipulated in the 2037 National Water Resources Plan, optimal use and sustainable management of water resources, and raising the efficiency of water usage.
It also includes reusing agricultural wastewater depending on modern technologies, the integrated management of coastal zones, cooperation in applied research on water treatment and modern irrigation systems and the development of drainage systems, raising the capacity of the ministry’s employees in the field of environmental, and assessing the social impact of projects.
Moreover, the programme includes cooperation in sustainable management of water resources, encouraging research projects, exchanging information between research institutions in the two countries, and organising workshops on topics of common interest.
It also includes supporting the application of modern irrigation systems through the implementation of some pilot areas in conjunction with updating the design of covered drainage systems.
The Egyptian-Dutch Water Advisory Panel was established in 1976. Since then, the panel has been working to support the exchange of experiences between the Egyptian and Dutch governments in the areas of planning and management of water resources.
Areas of cooperation also include maximising the return of water in agriculture, improving water quality, sewage treatment technologies, and integrated management for coastal areas.
The panel consists of representatives of the Ministries of Irrigation, Agriculture, and Housing, and the Holding Company for Drinking Water of Egypt; and representatives of the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure, and the Netherlands Water Partnership.
