Egypt FM discusses water, finance with UN, EIB
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met UN envoy and EIB vice-president in Cairo on Tuesday.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met UN Special Envoy on Water Retno Marsudi and European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti in Cairo on Tuesday. They discussed water security, preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, and expanding development financing in Egypt. Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s water-scarcity challenges and measures to address them, including water conservation and irrigation modernisation.
Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s support for cooperation among Nile riparian states and equitable benefit sharing, rejecting unilateral measures that could affect downstream states. In a separate meeting, Abdelatty discussed expanding the EIB’s portfolio in Egypt, which has funded 141 projects since 1979. They also addressed financing for projects in energy, health, transport, water, and food security.
Abdelatty also spoke with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi by phone on Tuesday about regional de-escalation and crisis management. The ministers reviewed options to manage escalating regional risks and discussed expanding regional consultations between Iran and the “R4” ministerial group. Abdelatty reiterated the government’s commitment to economic reforms to improve the investment climate.
Why it mattersEgypt's foreign minister met with UN and EIB officials to discuss water security and development financing, and with Iran's foreign minister about regional de-escalation.