Egypt accelerates efforts to optimize irrigation, drainage services

EGYPT – Hani Sweilem, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, has highlighted a strategic push to enhance the effectiveness of the nation’s state-run irrigation and drainage services.

In a recent meeting, Sweilem reviewed the progress of the Holding Company for Irrigation and Drainage and its subsidiaries—the Egyptian Company for Irrigation and Drainage and the Egyptian Dredging Company.

Sweilem stressed the need to fully utilize the capabilities of the Holding Company and its subsidiaries to improve their role in project execution both locally and internationally.

“We must optimize our resources, including our workforce and equipment, to meet the demands of various tenders and projects,” said Sweilem.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining and enhancing the efficiency of equipment while also focusing on the training and skill development of the company’s employees.

To address these goals, Sweilem has directed efforts towards improving the company’s financial health and leveraging its assets for greater investment returns.

“Completing projects on time is crucial. We must also aim to improve the company’s financial standing in the near future,” he added.

The meeting was attended by Khaled Wasif, Assistant Minister for Companies and Investment; Alaa Khaled, Non-Executive Chairperson of the Holding Company for Irrigation and Drainage; and Mahmoud Ghalloush, the company’s Executive Managing Director.

A significant restructuring of the board of the Holding Company for Irrigation and Drainage occurred a year ago, which now oversees the merged company.

Post-merger, the Egyptian Company for Irrigation and Drainage, headquartered in Assiut, and the Egyptian Dredging Company, based in Cairo, remain as the key subsidiaries.

The restructured board has successfully addressed previous debts amounting to EGP 87 million and secured new projects valued at EGP 600 million (USD 12.39 million).

These efforts are seen as part of a broader strategy to enhance the efficiency of Egypt’s water management systems.

Egypt’s government has several key initiatives aimed at increasing agricultural production and improving water resource management. Among these are the Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy (SADS) 2030 and Egypt’s Future Project for Agricultural Production.

The SADS 2030 aims to boost agricultural output and optimize water use by incorporating modern technology, supporting land reclamation, and establishing new agricultural communities.

Launched in April 2017, Egypt’s Future Project focuses on providing high-quality agricultural products, reducing imports, and fostering sustainable development.

For the 2023/24 period, the focus includes expanding both horizontally and vertically to meet the demand for essential goods, promoting modern irrigation techniques, and improving the efficiency of services related to transport, storage, and marketing.

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