Latest news with #WaterResourcesandIrrigation


Egypt Independent
6 days ago
- Science
- Egypt Independent
Sewilam discusses using satellites and modern tools to monitor water hyacinth
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam held a meeting with senior officials from the ministry to discuss the use of satellite technology and modern tools for monitoring and managing the spread of water hyacinth and aquatic weeds in the country's waterways. During the meeting, the team presented a new application developed on the Google Earth Engine platform, a cloud-based geospatial processing platform that enables the use of satellite imagery to create a variety of data-processing applications. The app allows high-speed, cost-effective and highly accurate monitoring of aquatic plants through satellite image analysis. The application automatically identifies watercourses using various spectral indices designed to extract water bodies from satellite images. Sewilam asserted the importance of leveraging modern technology to support the ministry's work and optimize the management of water resources. He noted that the ability to continuously monitor the spread of water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds through satellite-based tools would allow ministry officials to take swift and informed decisions to manage and remove these invasive species. The application also plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency by detecting any potential manipulation in work reports or discrepancies in the recorded volumes of removed vegetation during cleaning operations, he said.


Egypt Independent
05-08-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
FM delivers President Sisi's message to Ugandan counterpart
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty delivered a message from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during a meeting held here on Monday. The meeting, which took place as part of Abdelatty's official visit to Uganda, was attended by Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam. During the meeting, Abdelatty conveyed President Sisi's greetings and appreciation to President Museveni, reaffirming Egypt's pride in the longstanding and strategic ties between the two brotherly nations. He underlined that these relations are grounded in mutual respect and shared interests, reflecting the aspirations of both peoples. He also praised the growing momentum in bilateral ties, as seen in the increasing frequency of high-level visit exchanges between the two countries. Abdelatty stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors and called for seizing available opportunities to enhance economic ties and beef up trade. He proposed the establishment of a joint Egyptian-Ugandan Business Council to boost investment flows in priority sectors such as construction, energy, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine manufacturing. The minister also stressed the need to deepen collaboration between Egyptian and Ugandan companies, particularly through public-private partnerships, with a focus on agriculture and energy. He emphasized opportunities for collaborative ventures under Egypt's new initiative to foster development in Southern Nile Basin countries. On the issue of water security, Abdelatty outlined Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile River and reaffirmed the country's firm stance on the need to adhere to international law governing shared water resources. He stressed the importance of cooperation based on mutual interest and legal principles, while firmly rejecting unilateral actions that contravene international law in the Eastern Nile Basin. He reiterated that the Nile River is a matter of national existence for Egypt and expressed hope for greater regional integration and cooperation among Nile Basin countries to strengthen fraternal ties and promote sustainable development in the continent. For his part, Sewilam reviewed current cooperation and ongoing joint projects between Egypt and Uganda in the water resources sector. He reaffirmed that respect for international law remains the foundation for constructive engagement and mutual benefit among all Nile Basin countries. The talks also addressed recent political and security developments in the Horn of Africa, efforts to combat terrorism, and ways to promote peace and security in the African continent. Both sides agreed to maintain coordination at the bilateral and multilateral levels to strengthen joint African action and support efforts aimed at fostering stability, security, and development throughout the region. At the conclusion of the meeting, President Museveni asked Abdelatty to convey his warm greetings and appreciation to President Sisi, reaffirming Uganda's commitment to deepening its partnership with Egypt in light of the historic and strategic bonds uniting the two countries.


Egypt Independent
05-08-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
FM delivers President Sisi's message to Ugandan counterpart
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty delivered a message from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during a meeting held here on Monday. The meeting, which took place as part of Abdelatty's official visit to Uganda, was attended by Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam. During the meeting, Abdelatty conveyed President Sisi's greetings and appreciation to President Museveni, reaffirming Egypt's pride in the longstanding and strategic ties between the two brotherly nations. He underlined that these relations are grounded in mutual respect and shared interests, reflecting the aspirations of both peoples. He also praised the growing momentum in bilateral ties, as seen in the increasing frequency of high-level visit exchanges between the two countries. Abdelatty stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors and called for seizing available opportunities to enhance economic ties and beef up trade. He proposed the establishment of a joint Egyptian-Ugandan Business Council to boost investment flows in priority sectors such as construction, energy, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine manufacturing. The minister also stressed the need to deepen collaboration between Egyptian and Ugandan companies, particularly through public-private partnerships, with a focus on agriculture and energy. He emphasized opportunities for collaborative ventures under Egypt's new initiative to foster development in Southern Nile Basin countries. On the issue of water security, Abdelatty outlined Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile River and reaffirmed the country's firm stance on the need to adhere to international law governing shared water resources. He stressed the importance of cooperation based on mutual interest and legal principles, while firmly rejecting unilateral actions that contravene international law in the Eastern Nile Basin. He reiterated that the Nile River is a matter of national existence for Egypt and expressed hope for greater regional integration and cooperation among Nile Basin countries to strengthen fraternal ties and promote sustainable development in the continent. For his part, Sewilam reviewed current cooperation and ongoing joint projects between Egypt and Uganda in the water resources sector. He reaffirmed that respect for international law remains the foundation for constructive engagement and mutual benefit among all Nile Basin countries. The talks also addressed recent political and security developments in the Horn of Africa, efforts to combat terrorism, and ways to promote peace and security in the African continent. Both sides agreed to maintain coordination at the bilateral and multilateral levels to strengthen joint African action and support efforts aimed at fostering stability, security, and development throughout the region. At the conclusion of the meeting, President Museveni asked Abdelatty to convey his warm greetings and appreciation to President Sisi, reaffirming Uganda's commitment to deepening its partnership with Egypt in light of the historic and strategic bonds uniting the two countries.


Daily News Egypt
05-08-2025
- General
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, Netherlands to deepen water cooperation, modern irrigation projects
Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, met on Monday with the Dutch Ambassador to Cairo, Peter Mollema, to review progress on joint water initiatives and explore new avenues for cooperation in sustainable water management, according to an official statement from the ministry. The discussions focused on the ongoing project 'Modernizing Irrigation Technologies to Improve Smallholder Livelihoods in Upper Egypt,' implemented in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and funded by the Dutch government. Both parties emphasised the need to accelerate implementation in the target governorates of Assiut, Sohag, and Qena. Sewilam underlined the importance of boosting awareness efforts through workshops and field sessions to educate farmers on the benefits of modern irrigation systems, including improved crop productivity, increased income, and enhanced product quality. The meeting also addressed plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch organisation Invest International to conduct a feasibility study on 'hotspots' along Egypt's Mediterranean coast. These vulnerable areas would be protected using eco-friendly sand nourishment techniques as part of Egypt's broader move toward nature-based coastal protection solutions. Preparations are also underway to mark the 50th anniversary of Egyptian-Dutch cooperation in water management, dating back to the founding of the Egyptian-Dutch Advisory Panel on Water Management in 1975. Commemorative events are planned during the upcoming 8th Cairo Water Week in October. Finally, officials discussed renewing the memorandum of understanding governing the Egyptian-Dutch High Committee on Water, which outlines collaboration on water resource management, coastal zone protection, and adaptation to climate change.


Daily News Egypt
05-08-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's Foreign Minister discusses Nile water security with Ugandan president
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe on Monday to discuss Egypt's 'existential' concerns over its water security and ways to boost bilateral ties, the Egyptian foreign ministry said. Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, also attended the high-level meeting during the official visit to Uganda. In a statement, the ministry said Abdelatty conveyed Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile River and stressed the need to adhere to international law for shared water resources. He voiced Egypt's rejection of 'unilateral actions' in the eastern Nile Basin and affirmed that Cairo 'will take all necessary measures under international law to protect its water security.' 'The waters of the Nile are an existential issue for Egypt,' Abdelatty told the Ugandan president. The minister of water resources and irrigation reiterated that respect for international law on the Nile River is the basis for positive cooperation to achieve the common interest of all basin countries. During the meeting, Abdelatty, who conveyed greetings from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, also called for the formation of a joint Egyptian-Ugandan business council to boost investment in sectors like construction, energy, and pharmaceuticals. He highlighted the potential for joint projects through a financing mechanism recently established by Egypt to support development in southern Nile Basin countries. The officials also discussed regional security developments, including the situation in the Horn of Africa and counter-terrorism efforts. For his part, President Museveni asked for his greetings to be passed to President Sisi and stressed his country's keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation, the statement said. Separately, Abdelatty and Sewilam also met with Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, in Kampala. In that meeting, they discussed similar issues of economic cooperation and regional security, and Abdelatty delivered a grant of agricultural equipment and light transport vehicles to a Ugandan non-governmental organisation that supports youth and small-scale farmers.