Irrigation min. participates in sustainable blue economy conf. in Kenya

NAIROBI, Nov 28 (MENA) - Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aaty participated in the fourth conference on sustainable blue economy in Kenya.

Ex-prime minister Sherif Ismail led a high-level delegation, including the irrigation minister, to the conference that focuses on creating economic growth, ensuring healthy waters and building safe communities.

Over 4,000 participants from around the world are attending the conference to learn how to build a blue economy that harnesses the potential of our oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to improve the lives of all, particularly people in developing states, women, youth and Indigenous peoples.

The conference leverages the latest innovations, scientific advances and best practices to build prosperity while conserving waters for future generations.

On the sidelines of the conference, Abdel Aty had meetings with several participating ministers and officials at the regional and international levels.

He also had talks with a number of Kenyan ministers on means of activating joint cooperation and following up cooperation agreements between the two sides.

They also discussed the implementation of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor Project (LAPSSET), which creates an extension of the maritime silk road.

LAPSSET Corridor project, also known as Lamu corridor, is a transport and infrastructure project in Kenya that, when complete, will be the country's second transport corridor.

Kenya's other transport corridor is the Mombasa - Uganda transport corridor that passes through Nairobi and much of the Northern Rift.

The project will involve the following components:
1- A port at Manda Bay, Lamu,
2- Standard gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)) railway line to Juba and Addis Ababa, the South Sudanese and Ethiopian capitals respectively.
3- Road network
4- Oil pipelines (South Sudan and Ethiopia)
5- Oil refinery at Bargoni
6- Three airports
7- Three resort cities (Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana shores).