Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Sewilam held talks with Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli on Tuesday on expanding bilateral cooperation in water management, irrigation modernization and improving water-use efficiency.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 5th Istanbul International Water Forum, where both sides also explored collaboration in rainfall forecasting and early warning systems using real-time data, according to a statement.
Yumakli praised Egypt’s expertise in water resource management, highlighting what he described as the country’s effective systems and notable progress in the sector. He called for closer cooperation, particularly through the exchange of technical knowledge and the adoption of modern water management technologies.
Sewilam addressed Egypt’s growing water challenges and reviewed government efforts under the “Second Generation of Water System 2.0,” a national strategy focused on boosting water efficiency, expanding treatment and reuse, and advancing digital transformation in the sector.
He said there were “promising opportunities” for joint work in areas including irrigation modernization, efficient water use, real-time forecasting and environmentally sustainable water infrastructure, as well as training and capacity building.
At the international level, Sewilam affirmed the need to deepen cooperation on integrated water resources management, desalination for food production and climate adaptation, while enhancing knowledge sharing between countries.
He also called for strengthening the role of the World Water Council, noting that both Egypt and Turkey are members of its Board of Governors, and emphasized the importance of aligning global water and climate agendas ahead of Turkey’s hosting of the COP31 climate conference in November 2026.
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