Within the framework of his participation in the activities of the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27), Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam attended the opening ceremony of the Swedish Business Pavilion in the presence of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Christerson.
In his speech at the event, which was held on Monday, Sweilam thanked Sweden for organising this important pavilion, expressing his appreciation for the good relations between the two countries.
He also praised the support provided by the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency to Egypt and Africa in the field of water, as well as the International Water Institute in Stockholm (SIWI) — which is a strategic partner of the ministry in the field of water resources management — and the close cooperation between the two countries in various international settings, including the Water Pavilion at the COP27 and the Cairo-Stockholm Water Week.
Furthermore, he pointed out the importance of the COP27 in presenting the challenges facing the African continent in the field of water and food security, which requires the Swedish side to provide the necessary support to African countries to face these challenges, support the green policy, and achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Moreover, the minister stressed the importance of the Swedish side in providing grants and technical assistance in the water sector in African countries, highlighting Egypt’s efforts to enhance south-south cooperation.
Sweilam further stressed the role of Swedish funding agencies and organisations working in the water field in supporting the adaptation initiative in the water sector that Egypt will launch during the conference.
The COP27 kicked off in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh on Sunday 6 November under the theme of ‘Implementation’ and will run until 18 November.
