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President El-Sisi’s Speech at the Opening of Cairo Water Week 2022

Sunday, 16 October 2022 / 07:20 PM

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”

Honorable heads of delegations,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Honorable guests,

It gives me pleasure to address you today at the opening of the 5th edition of the Cairo Water Week (CWW), which is organized by Egypt. Cairo Water Week has become an active international and regional platform supporting discussions on water issues, which are increasingly important to efforts being made to enhance international peace and sustainable development.

This CWW is held under the theme “Water at the Heart of Climate Action”. This theme is tackled in global discussions, aiming to intensify international action on water and climate issues, culminating in the global climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, next month.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Water has always been life-giving for the planet since the beginning of creation and the main pillar for the development of civilization. However, the accelerating development of modern civilization has increased the pressure on the available water resources, thus leading the human race to a critical stage, in which many countries face increasing challenges to provide the basic water needs.

Food continued to be the primary focus of worldwide water utilization. Since food needs are expected to increase by 60% by 2050, it has become clear that water challenges and food security are intertwined.

Climate change has also exacerbated this double challenge, particularly in countries suffering from water scarcity that may result in serious adverse consequences on peace and security at the regional and international levels. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

It was Egypt's destiny to be at the heart of these three intertwined challenges: water and food security and climate change. Egypt is one the most arid countries in the world and it relies almost exclusively on the Nile River for its renewable water resources. About 80% of these resources go to the agriculture sector, the source of livelihood for more than 60 million people- half of Egypt’s population.

Due to this unprecedented water scarcity, Egypt’s water resources are now unable to meet the needs of its people in spite of following a policy to rationalize consumption, through the reuse of irrigation water, making the overall efficiency rate in Egypt one of the highest in Africa.

The impacts of climate change exacerbate water scarcity on the agricultural lands in Egypt, which are affected by the adverse consequences of climate change within its borders and throughout the Nile Basin countries, as Egypt is a downstream country. 

Given all this, it was necessary for Egypt to adopt a comprehensive approach to successfully deal with water and food security challenges that are associated with climate change, considering it a matter of national security for Egypt.

At the national level, the State has adopted a national strategy for managing water resources, which aims to provide drinking water, improve its quality, rationalize the use of water resources, and develop them by all possible means.

Egypt has adopted the food security policy to balance between local food production and food imports. Egypt, thanks to that, has been able to maintain its food and water security amid regional and international crises.

Regionally in dealing with the Nile River, Egypt has always been a pioneer in advancing the rules and principles of international law regarding shared watercourses, primarily cooperation and consultation, in order to avoid causing harm, within the context of the management of transboundary water resources. These are the absolute rules and principles to ensure the equitable and shared utilization of these resources.

Egypt’s position is based on its belief that commitment to the spirit of cooperation and compatibility in the areas of common interests is the only way to avoid the negative repercussions that might result from unilateral actions in river basins. This has been proven by the best international practices, including in Africa.

Egypt's position also stems from the fact that it shares the same endeavor for development with various developing countries. It also believes in the need to avoid any negative consequences that could emerge as a result of a development project in developing countries that might impact and harm other developing countries in an uncontainable manner.  

We dream of a common endeavor to maximize the wealth of the Nile Basin that its nations shall all enjoy, instead of acting individually and competing in an uncooperative way that will result in a limited development, falling short in size and scope, in a manner that destabilizes them.

Our entrenched vision is to work together with a focus on establishing and sharing prosperity, instead of competition and rivalry, which lead to sharing impoverishment and instability.

Realizing the gravity of the issue and given its existential importance to us, Egypt renews its commitment to exerting utmost efforts to settle the “Ethiopian Renaissance Dam” case in a manner that achieves the interests of all parties. Egypt also calls on the international community to exert maximum and concerted efforts in order to achieve this just goal.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

Internationally, Egypt was keen on actively engaging in all relevant fora and on advancing the importance of concerted efforts to implement the sixth goal of the sustainable development goals, in an integrated manner.

Egypt is looking forward, with great interest, to the UN Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the International Decade for Action, which is scheduled to be held in March 2023. This edition of the Cairo Water Week is one of the main activities in preparation for this conference

I would like to seize the opportunity to invite you to participate in the events of the World Climate Summit COP27, that Egypt hosts in Sharm El-Sheikh, next November. During the summit Egypt will present the initiative " Water Adaptation and Resilience ", which is being coordinated with the World Meteorological Organization. Within this framework, Egypt is set to organize an African Center for “Water and Adaptation to Climate Change” in order to support African capabilities in this important field.

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the end, I would like to thank you once again and welcome you in Egypt. I would also like to express my aspiration for the success of Cairo Water Week to emerge with effective recommendations, capable of advancing the international water agenda. This shall include enhancing Egypt’s development ambition, as well as the prosperity and stability of the world.

May Allah grant you success and crown your efforts with success.

Thank you for listening,

May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you”

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The President's Speeches 16 October 2022

President El-Sisi’s Speech at the Opening of Cairo Water Week 2022

Sunday, 16 October 2022 / 07:20 PM

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”

Honorable heads of delegations,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Honorable guests,

It gives me pleasure to address you today at the opening of the 5th edition of the Cairo Water Week (CWW), which is organized by Egypt. Cairo Water Week has become an active international and regional platform supporting discussions on water issues, which are increasingly important to efforts being made to enhance international peace and sustainable development.

This CWW is held under the theme “Water at the Heart of Climate Action”. This theme is tackled in global discussions, aiming to intensify international action on water and climate issues, culminating in the global climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, next month.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Water has always been life-giving for the planet since the beginning of creation and the main pillar for the development of civilization. However, the accelerating development of modern civilization has increased the pressure on the available water resources, thus leading the human race to a critical stage, in which many countries face increasing challenges to provide the basic water needs.

Food continued to be the primary focus of worldwide water utilization. Since food needs are expected to increase by 60% by 2050, it has become clear that water challenges and food security are intertwined.

Climate change has also exacerbated this double challenge, particularly in countries suffering from water scarcity that may result in serious adverse consequences on peace and security at the regional and international levels. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

It was Egypt's destiny to be at the heart of these three intertwined challenges: water and food security and climate change. Egypt is one the most arid countries in the world and it relies almost exclusively on the Nile River for its renewable water resources. About 80% of these resources go to the agriculture sector, the source of livelihood for more than 60 million people- half of Egypt’s population.

Due to this unprecedented water scarcity, Egypt’s water resources are now unable to meet the needs of its people in spite of following a policy to rationalize consumption, through the reuse of irrigation water, making the overall efficiency rate in Egypt one of the highest in Africa.

The impacts of climate change exacerbate water scarcity on the agricultural lands in Egypt, which are affected by the adverse consequences of climate change within its borders and throughout the Nile Basin countries, as Egypt is a downstream country. 

Given all this, it was necessary for Egypt to adopt a comprehensive approach to successfully deal with water and food security challenges that are associated with climate change, considering it a matter of national security for Egypt.

At the national level, the State has adopted a national strategy for managing water resources, which aims to provide drinking water, improve its quality, rationalize the use of water resources, and develop them by all possible means.

Egypt has adopted the food security policy to balance between local food production and food imports. Egypt, thanks to that, has been able to maintain its food and water security amid regional and international crises.

Regionally in dealing with the Nile River, Egypt has always been a pioneer in advancing the rules and principles of international law regarding shared watercourses, primarily cooperation and consultation, in order to avoid causing harm, within the context of the management of transboundary water resources. These are the absolute rules and principles to ensure the equitable and shared utilization of these resources.

Egypt’s position is based on its belief that commitment to the spirit of cooperation and compatibility in the areas of common interests is the only way to avoid the negative repercussions that might result from unilateral actions in river basins. This has been proven by the best international practices, including in Africa.

Egypt's position also stems from the fact that it shares the same endeavor for development with various developing countries. It also believes in the need to avoid any negative consequences that could emerge as a result of a development project in developing countries that might impact and harm other developing countries in an uncontainable manner.  

We dream of a common endeavor to maximize the wealth of the Nile Basin that its nations shall all enjoy, instead of acting individually and competing in an uncooperative way that will result in a limited development, falling short in size and scope, in a manner that destabilizes them.

Our entrenched vision is to work together with a focus on establishing and sharing prosperity, instead of competition and rivalry, which lead to sharing impoverishment and instability.

Realizing the gravity of the issue and given its existential importance to us, Egypt renews its commitment to exerting utmost efforts to settle the “Ethiopian Renaissance Dam” case in a manner that achieves the interests of all parties. Egypt also calls on the international community to exert maximum and concerted efforts in order to achieve this just goal.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

Internationally, Egypt was keen on actively engaging in all relevant fora and on advancing the importance of concerted efforts to implement the sixth goal of the sustainable development goals, in an integrated manner.

Egypt is looking forward, with great interest, to the UN Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the International Decade for Action, which is scheduled to be held in March 2023. This edition of the Cairo Water Week is one of the main activities in preparation for this conference

I would like to seize the opportunity to invite you to participate in the events of the World Climate Summit COP27, that Egypt hosts in Sharm El-Sheikh, next November. During the summit Egypt will present the initiative " Water Adaptation and Resilience ", which is being coordinated with the World Meteorological Organization. Within this framework, Egypt is set to organize an African Center for “Water and Adaptation to Climate Change” in order to support African capabilities in this important field.

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the end, I would like to thank you once again and welcome you in Egypt. I would also like to express my aspiration for the success of Cairo Water Week to emerge with effective recommendations, capable of advancing the international water agenda. This shall include enhancing Egypt’s development ambition, as well as the prosperity and stability of the world.

May Allah grant you success and crown your efforts with success.

Thank you for listening,

May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you”