Minister Sewilam made the remarks during a meeting with Meskerem Brhane, the World Bank's regional director for sustainable development in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
Egypt's annual per capita share of water started falling below the international water-poverty threshold of 1,000 cubic metres in the 1990s and has since continued on a downward trajectory.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation on water security, climate adaptation, and sustainable development, according to a ministry statement.
The discussions focused on strengthening strategic cooperation in the water sector amid growing global water challenges, including opportunities for collaboration under the World Bank's Water Forward initiative and a proposed Water Compact framework to support water-scarce countries.
Sewilam said Egypt relies on the Nile River for more than 98 percent of its freshwater resources and receives very limited rainfall, making efficient water management a critical national priority.
He said Egypt is working to bridge the gap between available resources and demand through an integrated approach that includes expanding water reuse, treating agricultural drainage water, and relying on "virtual water" through food imports to help support water and food security.
The minister also reviewed progress under Egypt's Water 2.0 strategy, which forms part of the National Water Resources Plan 2037 and the National Water Strategy 2050.
The programme aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of water management through digital transformation, forecasting tools, smart systems, decision-support mechanisms, stronger governance, infrastructure upgrades, improved water quality, and expanded use of non-conventional water resources.
Sewilam highlighted the role of water users' associations in improving local water governance, noting that more than 6,400 associations have been established nationwide.
He said the groups help farmers jointly manage irrigation canals, coordinate crop selection, share equipment and agricultural inputs, and collectively market their produce, reducing costs and improving returns.
He also pointed to major national water treatment and reuse projects, including the Bahr El-Baqar, Al-Mahsama, and New Delta facilities, describing them as flagship projects that have significantly increased Egypt's capacity to reuse water and support agricultural development.
The meeting also addressed the World Bank's Water Forward initiative and the proposed Water Compact.
Sewilam welcomed efforts to support water-scarce countries but stressed that such initiatives should reflect national priorities and focus on implementation, financing, capacity building, and technical support.
The two sides discussed potential areas for future cooperation, including irrigation modernization, sustainable groundwater management, non-conventional water resources, private sector participation, water treatment and reuse projects, digital water management, climate adaptation, and water infrastructure development.
Egypt is one of the world's most water-scarce countries. Its water challenges have intensified in recent years as population growth continues to outpace available resources.
In April, Sewilam said Egypt's annual per capita share of water had fallen to around 500 cubic metres, underscoring mounting pressure on the country's limited water resources.
To bridge the gap between available resources and demand, Egypt has adopted a strategy centred on improving water-use efficiency, expanding water treatment and reuse, increasing reliance on non-conventional water resources, and strengthening water governance.
As water scarcity remains one of Egypt's most pressing long-term development challenges, Cairo has sought to expand cooperation with international partners, including the World Bank, to mobilize financing, technical expertise, and climate adaptation support for water sector projects.
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