Egyptian president inaugurates 7th edition of Cairo Water Week

CAIRO – 13 October 2024: President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi inaugurated Sunday the seventh edition of Cairo Water Week having as theme "Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities," and that is running on October 13-17.

The president noted that event had become an annual platform to exchange knowledge and experience, build partnerships, support scientific research, and encourage innovation in the field of water management.

"We had a strong willpower to hold this event on time, in spite of the daunting challenges facing the world. That is because of the importance of examining water management topics in light of the worsening of the water scarcity crisis due to both natural and man-made factors. A case in point is gigantic projects established on transboundary rivers without studies and in disregard to the importance of maintaining the sustainability of water resources in alignment with the international water law, which necessitates prior notice, information exchange, consultations, conducting needed studies, guaranteeing the basic needs of humans, and not inflicting harm," President Sisi said.  

The Egyptian chief of state highlighted that this edition of Cairo Water Week is taking place in tandem with Africa Water Week and Africa Hydrological Conference, creating a momentum of water issues discussions.   

"Egypt prioritizes the water topic, given that the Nile River is intertwined with the existence of the Egyptian people as it constitutes the source of 98 percent of water in this country. Hence, preserving that vital source is a matter of existence that requires political commitment, diplomatic efforts, and cooperation with partner countries to achieve joint interests," President Sisi stressed.  

The president showcased that Egypt had fostered many continental water initiatives and programmes, adding that the country's current chairmanship of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) aimed for bolstering regional cooperation in the field and supporting member states to achieve sustainable development goals pertaining to water.

The speech also shed light on bilateral water cooperation between Egypt, and other African states, precisely Nile Basin countries. It is in the form of digging wells, removing weeds from waterways, establishing rainfall prediction centers, rehabilitating harbors, and building rainwater harvesting dams entirely funded by Egypt.   

In that context, President Sisi called on the international community to increase its support to African states in the field of water management by providing the funding and technology necessary to carry out projects and programmes targeted at accomplishing water security, development and peace on the continent.

"Water is the secret of life and the base for every progress and development. We tell the entire world from Egypt – the gift of the Nile – that water is the right of every person on earth, calling for prioritizing water on the international agenda," the president pointed out.