Egypt gives priority to cooperation with Nile basin countries, minister says

CAIRO – 28 December 2020:Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aati has said bilateral cooperation with all African countries, including Nile basin states, is one of the basic axes of Egypt’s foreign policies in light of potentials Egypt enjoys in the fields of human cadres and technical expertise in the water resources domains and other fields.

The minister’s statements came during a meeting with his ministry’s officials including engineers in charge with Nile water sectors to follow up cooperation with African countries.

Abdel Aati pointed out to cooperation in carrying out development projects benefitting the citizens of African countries and achieving sustainable development in the aftermath of serious challenges besetting the continent including overpopulation in some African countries as well as the spread of poverty, illiteracy and diseases.

Abdel Aati described cooperation with African countries as a model to follow between Egypt and sisterly African states.

The water resources minister said a number of cooperation projects were carried out with some African countries during the past years where his ministry established dams and solar energy-operated subterranean drinking water stations.

He added that seven dams were established in Uganda, 180 subterranean water wells were dug in Kenya, 75 others were dug Uganda, 30 were dug in Tanzania, 10 were dugs in Sudan’s Darfur and 6 in South Sudan’s Juba along with a water lifting station in South Sudan.

Minister Abdel Aati added that his ministry delegated experts to Guinea Conakry to conduct studies for establishing a dam and a hydroelectric project.

He added that his ministry carried out numerous projects in the fields of clearing water canals and waterways to develop African communities, improve the living conditions of Africans, create job opportunities, develop fishing farms and protect African citizens from diseases.

The minister added that training courses are being organized to train African cadres on the management and use of underground water, pointing out that 100 trainees from Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi, Cameron and Burkina Faso received training courses and scholarships