Egypt, Uganda hold talks on water security, regional cooperation - Foreign Affairs
During the visit, Abdelatty handed over a grant of agricultural equipment and light transport vehicles to a Ugandan NGO supporting youth and small-scale farmers.
According to foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to deepening its historical relationship with Uganda and boosting political and economic cooperation.
He expressed support for Uganda's participation in a development project financing mechanism for southern Nile Basin countries, established by Egypt.
Abdelatty also underscored Egypt's readiness to expand technical cooperation with Uganda across infrastructure, energy, investment, and development sectors.
He called for increased access to Egyptian goods in Ugandan markets and affirmed Egyptian companies' willingness to contribute to Uganda's development, in line with President Yoweri Museveni's priorities—particularly in infrastructure, water, energy and pharmaceuticals.
Abdelatty highlighted the role of Egyptian companies operating across the continent, noting Uganda's participation in training programmes run by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), which Ugandan officials described as valuable support for capacity building.
The meeting also addressed water security in the Nile Basin.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of cooperation based on international law and reiterated Egypt's rejection of unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin that violate international law, saying Cairo would take 'all necessary measures' to protect its water security.
Sewilam outlined existing bilateral cooperation on water projects and reiterated that respecting international law is fundamental to ensuring shared benefits for all Nile Basin countries.
The two sides also discussed regional developments, particularly the situation in Somalia and the ongoing deployment of the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), in which both Egypt and Uganda participate.
Abdelatty stressed the need to preserve the unity and stability of Somalia and Sudan, support national institutions, and promote peace and development across the continent.
The Kampala visit followed Abdelatty's recent tour of five West African countries—Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Senegal—aimed at strengthening ties and enhancing coordination on counterterrorism in the Sahel region.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily News Egypt
2 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Industry minister, automakers discuss localizing car sheet metal production
Egypt's Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir has held an extensive meeting with leading steel producers and representatives from automotive and bus manufacturing and assembly companies, as part of the state's strategy to promote local manufacturing and deepen production chains. The Monday discussions focused on exploring practical mechanisms to localize automotive sheet metal production in Egypt. Al-Wazir underlined the government's firm commitment to supporting the iron and steel sector, given its critical role in sustaining key industries—particularly the automotive industry. He stressed that localizing automotive sheet metal production is currently a top priority, as it would significantly reduce import costs, increase the proportion of local content, and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian products in domestic and global markets. The Minister explained that the ministry is developing an integrated strategy based on two main pillars. The first pillar aims to ensure a sustainable legislative and incentive framework, alongside clear implementation plans to support long-term industrial investment. The second focuses on identifying vehicle components that can realistically be manufactured locally, supported by skilled human resources and defined timelines. Al-Wazir noted that the ministry will continue close coordination with all relevant parties—including private sector stakeholders and government institutions—to ensure the efficient and timely execution of this national initiative. He emphasised that localizing automotive sheet metal production is not only a critical step in reducing imports but also serves as a launchpad for broader efforts to expand local manufacturing of vehicle components. This will pave the way for new industrial partnerships aligned with Egypt's economic development goals. The Minister highlighted that the domestic market has solid demand that could underpin the establishment of various feeder industries. He pointed out that Egypt already produces some automotive components that are exported to international markets, reflecting the competitiveness and quality of local manufacturing. Al-Wazir also identified promising opportunities to localize additional key components—including tires, glass, and sheet metal—and affirmed that the ministry is working to capture these opportunities by fostering effective public-private partnerships and creating a supportive environment for sustainable industrial investment. During the meeting, participants reviewed the perspectives of major steel producers on the feasibility of supplying sheet metal tailored to the design and structural needs of different vehicle types. Discussions also addressed production methods for exterior sheet metal, relevant design standards, and technical specifications. The meeting further examined the strategy and estimated production volumes needed to align with the state's broader plan to localize the automotive industry. Al-Wazir announced plans to hold a larger follow-up meeting with vehicle manufacturers and feeder industries to deepen technical discussions. The goal is to ensure that local sheet metal production matches the specifications required by automotive manufacturers. He called for closer coordination between steel producers, car assembly firms, and component manufacturers to integrate supply chains and advance the localization process in line with the national vision. The Minister concluded by stating that localizing automotive sheet metal production represents a qualitative step toward increasing local content and improving the effectiveness of the incentives offered to the automotive sector. This move is expected to boost the sector's regional and international competitiveness by reducing reliance on imports, improving supply chain stability, and enhancing investor confidence in Egypt's industrial landscape—all of which support manufacturers' capacity to meet production and export targets.
Daily News Egypt
3 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's Foreign Minister discusses Nile water security with Ugandan president
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe on Monday to discuss Egypt's 'existential' concerns over its water security and ways to boost bilateral ties, the Egyptian foreign ministry said. Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, also attended the high-level meeting during the official visit to Uganda. In a statement, the ministry said Abdelatty conveyed Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile River and stressed the need to adhere to international law for shared water resources. He voiced Egypt's rejection of 'unilateral actions' in the eastern Nile Basin and affirmed that Cairo 'will take all necessary measures under international law to protect its water security.' 'The waters of the Nile are an existential issue for Egypt,' Abdelatty told the Ugandan president. The minister of water resources and irrigation reiterated that respect for international law on the Nile River is the basis for positive cooperation to achieve the common interest of all basin countries. During the meeting, Abdelatty, who conveyed greetings from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, also called for the formation of a joint Egyptian-Ugandan business council to boost investment in sectors like construction, energy, and pharmaceuticals. He highlighted the potential for joint projects through a financing mechanism recently established by Egypt to support development in southern Nile Basin countries. The officials also discussed regional security developments, including the situation in the Horn of Africa and counter-terrorism efforts. For his part, President Museveni asked for his greetings to be passed to President Sisi and stressed his country's keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation, the statement said. Separately, Abdelatty and Sewilam also met with Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, in Kampala. In that meeting, they discussed similar issues of economic cooperation and regional security, and Abdelatty delivered a grant of agricultural equipment and light transport vehicles to a Ugandan non-governmental organisation that supports youth and small-scale farmers.
Al-Ahram Weekly
8 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt supports Lebanon's sovereignty, national unity: El-Sisi to Aoun
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's unwavering support for Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity during a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency. El-Sisi expressed Egypt's categorical rejection of any violations against Lebanese sovereignty and reaffirmed support for Lebanon's national institutions in their efforts to maintain security and stability. He also reaffirmed Egypt's support for Lebanon's national institutions in their efforts to ensure security and stability and expressed Egypt's readiness to assist the Lebanese government in reconstruction efforts—an offer that the Lebanese President appreciated. The two leaders discussed ways to bolster bilateral relations, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, and investment, in line with the aspirations of both peoples. Regional developments were also on the agenda, with both presidents emphasizing the need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. On Gaza, El-Sisi and Aoun stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, an end to Israeli aggression, and the swift delivery of humanitarian aid. They also emphasized the importance of releasing all hostages and detainees and launching a rapid reconstruction process in Gaza. Both leaders reaffirmed their countries' longstanding support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to establish an independent state, while firmly rejecting any forced displacement of Palestinians from their land. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
