Sewilam delivered these remarks during his participation on Tuesday, on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, in the "One Water Summit" on international cooperation in the water field, held in Riyadh on the sidelines of the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The summit aims to advance global water governance and accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 on water, focusing on water and sanitation. Building on the 2023 UN Water Conference, it fosters partnerships to scale up water-related projects, paving the way for the next UN Water Conference in 2026.

Sewilam highlighted that these challenges significantly impact many countries worldwide, especially Arab nations and countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

In addition, the minister highlighted the significance of international conferences and meetings as global platforms for cooperation and joint action to achieve sustainable water management.

He added that these gatherings accelerate efforts to achieve SDG 6 on water by leveraging the expertise of world leaders, experts, and specialists to develop innovative solutions for the future of global water resources.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his message for World Water Day on 22 March, underscored that achieving "water for peace" relies on significantly enhanced cooperation. Guterres noted that while 153 countries share water resources, only 24 have comprehensive cooperation agreements for all their shared waters, highlighting the pressing need to accelerate cross-border collaboration.

Moreover, the minister highlighted the importance of committing to developing and integrating countries and international and regional organizations’ efforts to exchange knowledge, experiences, and technologies.

Sewilam stressed the need to enhance scientific research, development, and innovation, enabling the international community to effectively address global water challenges and achieve prosperity for people worldwide.

Addressing water challenges
 

Minister Sewilam’s remarks are part of Egypt’s ongoing commitment to sustainable water management and recognition of water as a national security priority.

In November, on the sidelines of his participation in the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12), Sewilam emphasized that safeguarding water resources is a shared responsibility, adding that it is a national security priority to ensure sustainable development for future generations.

Egypt experiences severe water shortages, with the Nile supplying approximately 97 percent of its water needs. However, the country only accesses about 59.6 billion cubic metres annually, far short of the required 114 billion cubic metres, creating a significant deficit. Egypt's deficit is compensated by using 21 billion cubic metres annually from agricultural drains and importing crops from abroad, corresponding to water consumption estimated at 33 billion cubic metres annually.

Egypt's irrigation ministry has recently launched a national campaign, "Ala Al-Qad," to promote water conservation in Egypt. The campaign encourages citizens to use water sparingly, targeting a 30 percent reduction in drinking water consumption and efforts to protect water from pollution and waste. This comes as Egypt grapples with climate change, population growth, and geopolitical challenges.

According to the Ecolab Watermark study released on 26 November, 75 percent of Egyptian consumers believe that the government prioritizes water conservation amid growing concerns about water security, making it a top concern in one of the world’s most water-stressed nations.