English 
Alongside the events of the Climate Change Global Summit (COP27), Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Professor Dr. Hani Sewilam met with Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, Dr. Adel Mubarak, President of Menoufia University, Dr. Mansour Hassan, President of Beni Suef University, Dr. Gamal Soussa, President of Benha University, and Dr. Gamal El-Saeed, member of the House of Representatives and former President of Benha University, Dr. Yasser Refaat, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, and Dr. Walaa Sheta, head of the Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority.
During the meeting, they discussed the joint coordination between the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, universities, and Egyptian research bodies in the field of rehabilitation of water canals and other national projects.
Dr. Sewilam indicated that the aim of the rehabilitation work of the canals is to restore them to their main function, which is to deliver water to farmers in the right quantity and quality for irrigation and at the right time for the plant, regardless of the rehabilitation method, especially considering the existence of diverse experiences in this field around the world, and different methods that can be used. His Excellency added that evaluating what has been achieved in the canal rehabilitation project so far, and setting a plan of action during the coming period, while maintaining the speed of implementation, require close cooperation between the Ministry and the National Centre for Water Research on the one hand, and universities and research centres on the other hand, in a way that ensures the sustainability of the project in the future, with the implementation of works using the best means and techniques utilised globally in the field of canal rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of using environmentally friendly materials as much as possible, and using faster techniques in implementation.
It was agreed to form a workgroup in which representatives from the ministry, universities and research centres would participate to study various alternatives for rehabilitation work as an urgent stage (less costly and more sustainable alternatives to rehabilitating canals), with the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority providing the necessary funds to conduct several researches in this field, with the help of Egyptian expertise abroad.