Egypt is moving to strengthen financing mechanisms for agricultural modernization and water efficiency, following a high-level meeting between the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, to coordinate joint efforts on water sector reforms and investment planning.
The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between the two ministries to support Egypt’s water management system and ensure the efficient implementation of its strategic objectives, particularly in relation to improving irrigation infrastructure and agricultural productivity.
During the meeting, Kouchouk reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuous coordination across all shared files between the two ministries, stressing that such integration delivers significant public benefits.
He also highlighted the importance of supporting efforts to rationalize water usage and improve efficiency through the adoption of modern technologies.
Sewilam, for his part, emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation with the Ministry of Finance to ensure the timely implementation of water-related projects in line with approved schedules.
He noted that inter-ministerial alignment is essential for accelerating infrastructure development in the sector.
The meeting also reviewed a proposed protocol involving the Ministries of Water Resources and Irrigation, Agriculture, and Finance, as well as state-owned banks, aimed at financing projects to transition towards modern irrigation systems.
The proposed framework is expected to play a key role in mobilizing financial resources for agricultural transformation, particularly in supporting farmers in adopting more efficient irrigation technologies.
Sewilam underlined the necessity of implementing modern irrigation systems across all desert lands in accordance with the Water Resources and Irrigation Law, alongside ongoing canal and field-level improvements. He added that adopting modern agricultural practices would help increase productivity, improve crop quality, and optimize water usage.
He further stressed that improved water management would ensure more efficient allocation of resources to agricultural land in the required quantities and timing, contributing to higher efficiency across the sector and supporting national food security objectives.