Cairo: Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud took part on Monday in the opening session of the 38th General Assembly of the Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM), held in Cairo on the sidelines of the 8th Cairo Water Week (CWW).
According to Jordan News Agency, Abu Soud stated that these meetings strengthen the joint efforts of Arab and Islamic countries in addressing water, environmental, and food security; desertification; and drought challenges, aiming to help nations confront water scarcity and climate-related issues. He outlined Jordan's efforts to mitigate its water shortage challenges and highlighted key national strategic projects, including the National Water Carrier Project, which will rely on renewable energy to address the effects of climate change and the decline in groundwater levels. He also cited initiatives to sustain existing water resources, improve water supply efficiency, and expand wastewater treatment using international best standards for restricted agricultural use. He emphasized the adoption of the water footprint approach in Arab agriculture.
The minister reaffirmed Jordan's readiness to share its expertise and experience in integrated water management with other countries. He also commended Egypt's efforts in hosting and organizing Arab and Islamic meetings and thanked the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development for supporting the implementation of the National Water Carrier Project.
INWRDAM Executive Director Marwan Alraggad highlighted the network's regional initiative linking water, food, and energy and affirmed ongoing efforts to help member countries develop sustainable water solutions.
Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam said the CWW serves as a forum for stakeholders to develop effective future strategies. He praised the network's role in promoting cooperation, noting that while Arabs make up 6 percent of the world's population, they possess only 1 percent of the world's freshwater resources. He warned that by 2050, water scarcity could cost Arab economies between 6 and 14 percent of their GDP.
Syrian Minister of Agriculture Amjad Badr said the Arab region, particularly the Levant, is increasingly affected by drought, underscoring the need for active partnerships, practical policy frameworks, and support for research centers to face these challenges. He also expressed Syria's readiness to cooperate on joint initiatives.
Azerbaijani Minister of Water Resources Shavkat Rahimovich Khamraev stressed the need for innovative and creative approaches to help member states overcome water challenges and called for greater engagement by Islamic nations in developing such solutions.
Hany El Shaer, Regional Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for West Asia, highlighted the key role of civil society and organizations in enhancing climate resilience and affirmed the union's support for all initiatives addressing climate change.
Abdel Samie Fleifel, advisor to the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, said the fund has financed more than 142 Arab water projects and announced its contribution to funding the National Water Carrier Project, in addition to launching an Arab platform to facilitate financing.