Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation announced that the European Union will provide a €117.9 million grant in order to support the government’s water and energy programs. Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat noted that the grant will assist with the state’s efforts to boost its green transition and the execution of the eco-friendly projects ahead of hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).
Coordinated responses through international cooperation can tackle the synergies between water and energy, which is why building partnerships can promote nexus solutions that reap the benefits of cooperation in the water and energy sector.
This development financing will support the budget of the water and energy sectors, supporting the ministries of housing and utilities, water resources and irrigation, finance, petroleum, mineral wealth, electricity and renewable energy.
Minister Al-Mashat, stated that the financing will strengthen international partnerships and spur sustainable economic growth through development financing.
The Minister added that international partnerships have achieved mutual benefits for Egypt and the international community, as it has led to the successful implementation of many projects in the water sector, with examples that include the Bahr Al-Baqar wastewater treatment plant, the Mahsama wastewater treatment plant, and Gabal Al-Asfar wastewater treatment plant.
Egypt enjoys a strong partnership with the European Union, with the current cooperation portfolio between Egypt and the European Union amounting to around €1.35 billion in the to support several sectors, including transport, water, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, sustainable energy, environment, social protection, governance, capacity building and civil society.