Cairo: Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam to review the implementation of the 2025/2026 investment plan and discuss the proposed budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Rostom said the discussions focused on the 2026/2027 proposal, which emphasizes the completion of ongoing major projects and the launch of new initiatives. Key priorities include rehabilitating major Nile structures, replacing water installations, reinforcing canal banks, and protecting the Nile banks.
The plan also incorporates the "Decent Life" initiative, development projects in North Sinai and the South Valley, and the transport route for the New Delta station. Additionally, measures address flood protection in Sinai, Marsa Matrouh, and Upper Egypt, alongside the installation of groundwater pumps and the renewal of agricultural drainage networks.
Rostom noted that the investment strategy further covers coastal protection in Alexandria, Port Said, and Damietta, as well as digital transformation and research activities undertaken by the National Water Research Center. The maintenance of the High Dam and Aswan Reservoir will continue, along with bilateral cooperation projects with Nile Basin countries, including Sudan and Uganda, he added.
He further noted that the irrigation sector is central to Egypt's sustainable development and Vision 2030, particularly as the country faces challenges from water scarcity and climate change, necessitating the use of non-traditional water sources to ensure food security.
Sewilam expressed appreciation for the ongoing cooperation between the ministries and reaffirmed that water remains a top state priority. He highlighted the "Water 2.0" framework, aimed at enhancing sustainable water management, achieving international development goals, and supporting the water-energy-food nexus. Sewilam added that ministry policies are designed to maximize the return on every unit of water, ultimately improving services and the livelihoods of Egyptian farmers.