Dr. Hani Sewilam, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, met with Thomas Taraba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of the Slovak Republic, ahead of the “8th Cairo Water Week” events.

The two ministers discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation in the water sector, focusing on regulatory and technical frameworks.

They reviewed the final touches of a memorandum of understanding to be signed soon between the two countries to strengthen cooperation in water resources.

Dr. Sewilam explained that the memorandum will contribute to enhancing technical and scientific cooperation, in line with the axes of the “Second Generation of the Egyptian Irrigation System 2.0”.

The sides discussed several areas of bilateral cooperation, including implementing rainwater harvesting reservoirs and flood protection, especially in light of increasingly extreme climate changes.

The discussion also covered reliance on rainfall forecasting models, such as the mathematical models used by the Ministry’s Flood Forecasting Center.

The meeting confirmed the importance of cooperation in managing shared international rivers, such as the Nile and Danube Rivers, and emphasized commitment to applying international water law rules.

In conclusion, Sewilam expressed his appreciation for Slovakia’s participation in the “Cairo Water Week” and its ongoing commitment to supporting dialogue on sustainable water and environmental management.