‘We expect greater expansion of investments with Saudi Arabia,’ Egypt’s irrigation minister says
JEDDAH: Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, said Saudi Arabia and Egypt continue to strengthen cooperation, particularly in water desalination and reuse, to enhance water and food security in both countries.
Speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah during Saudi Water Week 2026 in Jeddah, Sewilam said discussions with Saudi officials focused on expanding cooperation in desalinating water for agricultural purposes.
He noted that this approach represents one of the most promising long-term solutions to water scarcity, particularly as the growing use of solar energy helps reduce desalination costs while enabling the use of desert land and saline water for food production through advanced agricultural technologies.
He also said he hopes to launch a joint Saudi-Egyptian project using solar-powered desalination to support modern agriculture, with the project expected to come to fruition in the near future, thereby advancing sustainable development and enhancing food security.
