Developing nations allocate approximately $165 billion annually toward water, yet public budgets cover over 90% of those expenditures while private financing remains below 2%.
The appointments follow a series of high-level engagements led by Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam during the ninth Cairo Water Week. The executive bureau is tasked with following up on council decisions and coordinating Arab positions on water issues at regional and international forums. Alongside Egypt and Sudan, the bureau includes Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Djibouti, and Algeria.
Launching the Arab Water Conference in Cairo
During the capital’s water meetings, Sewilam inaugurated the seventh Arab Water Conference.
The gathering drew Arab water ministers alongside representatives of regional and international organisations. It served as a platform to coordinate Arab priorities ahead of upcoming global summits, including the UN Water Conference scheduled for Abu Dhabi in December 2026 and the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.
From Policy Discussion to Financing-Ready Projects
He emphasized that expanding reliance on non-conventional water resources requires technology transfer, local capacity building, and innovative investment mechanisms to improve water-use efficiency. The discussions also underscored the legal dimensions of water management. Sewilam stressed the need for cooperation over shared water resources in accordance with international law and the principle of avoiding harm, backed by stronger water diplomacy, data exchange, and early-warning systems.
Unlocking Private Capital at the MED-RISE Forum
In a separate engagement during the week, Sewilam participated in the opening session of the first MED-RISE conference.
To bridge the existing funding gap, Sewilam advocated for a greater role for private capital and blended finance models.
Bilateral Agreements With Uzbekistan and South Sudan
On the sidelines of Cairo Water Week, bilateral meetings yielded several institutional agreements.
In a separate bilateral session, Sewilam conferred with South Sudan’s acting water resources and irrigation minister, Sultan Lam Tungwar Kueing Wong.
