Egypt and Japan Explore Cooperation in Water and Sanitation Sector

Dr. Sayed Ismail, Deputy Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, met with Oka Hiroshi, the Japanese Ambassador to Cairo, along with an accompanying delegation to discuss future cooperation and explore business opportunities. The meeting also covered preparations for hosting a delegation of 32 Japanese businessmen from 26 companies later this month to explore investment prospects in Egypt.

Dr. Ismail welcomed the Japanese ambassador and introduced the structure and policies of Egypt’s water and sanitation sector. He highlighted the current coverage of drinking water services, which now stands at 99% nationwide, and discussed ongoing efforts to improve service efficiency, including plans to upgrade infrastructure and reduce water losses. He also emphasized the drive to accelerate the installation of prepaid water meters. Coverage of sanitation services, meanwhile, has reached 70%, with plans to fully cover rural areas as part of the presidential “Decent Life” initiative.

The deputy minister also presented Egypt’s strategic plan for water desalination up to 2050, which aims to produce 9 million cubic meters of water per day across 11 coastal governorates. The private sector will implement and manage these projects. Additionally, he discussed current and future plans for sludge treatment and reducing water losses, alongside efforts to localize the production of key components for water and sanitation projects.

Dr. Ismail emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in implementing and managing national projects. He referred to the Egyptian State Ownership Policy Document, issued in December 2022, which outlined the state’s plan to withdraw from water desalination projects and sludge management within five years. This policy also includes the management of water and sanitation networks, treatment plants, and water purification facilities.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the successful involvement of the private sector in water and sanitation projects, citing the operation of New Cairo’s wastewater treatment plant and the ongoing expansion of the Gabal El Asfar treatment plant, one of the largest in the world.