Cairo: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hany Sewilam engaged in discussions with Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Egypt, Mansurbek Kilichev, and his delegation about enhancing collaboration in water resources, irrigation, and sustainable development.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting underscored Egypt's appreciation for its robust ties with Uzbekistan and its eagerness to activate a memorandum of understanding focused on water resources. Minister Sewilam called for the swift organization of the first meeting of the Egyptian-Uzbek joint working group to establish a strategic cooperation roadmap and achieve concrete outcomes.

Minister Sewilam introduced Egypt's Water 2.0 framework, which emphasizes digital transformation, artificial intelligence, smart irrigation, and climate change adaptation. He highlighted the significance of direct collaboration between Egypt's National Water Research Center and Uzbek counterparts, advocating for increased communication among researchers and the execution of joint studies and projects. He identified scientific research and knowledge exchange as vital components for advancing bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Kilichev expressed Uzbekistan's desire to expand cooperation with Egypt, particularly in digital transformation, smart irrigation, and modern technologies. He noted shared water challenges and emphasized Uzbekistan's commitment to transforming technical and research collaborations into practical projects and tangible results.

The dialogue also included plans for an upcoming visit by a high-level Uzbek delegation to Egypt and the coordination between the two nations at international and regional forums on water issues. Minister Sewilam reiterated the importance of adhering to international water law principles, including causing no harm, prior notification and consultation, and cooperation among riparian states. He also extended an invitation to Uzbekistan's Minister of Water Resources to participate in the ninth Cairo Water Week in October.