Paris: On the sidelines of his participation in the "Ambition Africa 2025" conference held in Paris, Professor Dr. Hani Sweilem, Egypt's minister of water resources and irrigation, met with Ms. Barbara Pompili, the French Ambassador in charge of the environment. Dr. Sweilem commended the ongoing support provided by the French Development Agency (AFD) for projects related to water, sanitation, and capacity building in Egypt.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr. Sweilem affirmed Egypt's readiness to collaborate with French partners in areas such as brackish water desalination for agricultural use, water treatment and reuse, water quality measurement, digital water management, and the development of energy-efficient water pumping stations. He highlighted Egypt's commitment to enhancing the role of French companies and institutions in modernizing water management processes within the country.

Discussions between the two parties also focused on strengthening cooperation during international events. Dr. Sweilem stressed Egypt's interest in increasing French participation in future sessions of Cairo Water Week. This includes high-level French involvement, contributions from French experts and technicians, and the organization of joint sessions and side events.

Dr. Sweilem further emphasized Egypt's dedication to aligning positions with France on global water governance, especially in multilateral forums and water-related climate negotiations. He noted the significance of enhancing coordination between the two nations during upcoming international events, such as the Ministerial Meeting of Mediterranean Countries and the United Nations Water Conference, both scheduled for 2026.