Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Housing and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, and in cooperation with the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), the event runs until November 25 and features over 100 local and international companies.
Following the opening, El-Sherbiny toured the exhibition,
starting with the German pavilions, which showcased advanced water treatment,
smart control, and digital transformation technologies. He also visited the
pavilions of the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Military Production, and
the Arab Organization for Industrialization, which presented high-efficiency
components and pumps, along with efforts to localise the national product.
The Minister was briefed at the Greater Cairo Water
Company's pavilion on its Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for loss
reduction and operational efficiency. He also visited several companies
displaying products like high-quality vitrified clay pipes, integrated
environmental solutions, water purification/desalination/wastewater treatment
plants, and mechanical/electrical systems, in addition to operation and
maintenance services.
El-Sherbiny stated that IWWI 2025 aligns with the Ministry's
vision for water resource management, utility efficiency, Egypt’s Vision 2030,
and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Clean Water and Sanitation).
He explained that organising IWWI supports the national
drive for innovation, technology transfer, and local capacity building. He
called it an effective platform to discuss water challenges, innovative
solutions, digital transformation, AI, and industrial localisation. The
Minister also stressed the Ministry's priority for sustainable economic models
and promoting public-private partnerships for project financing and
implementation.
El-Sherbiny noted that the event serves as a unique platform
for dialogue, gathering decision-makers, experts, and investors to exchange
experiences and review global best practices, supporting the implementation of
the National Water Strategy 2037.
Dr. Sayed Ismail, Deputy Minister of Housing, affirmed the
sector's major qualitative leap due to state support, citing the "Decent
Life" initiative. He stressed that digital transformation, AI, and SCADA
systems are essential pillars for developing operation and maintenance and
achieving technical and financial sustainability.
Engineer Ahmed Gaber, Acting Chairman of the HCWW,
highlighted the company’s efforts to enhance utility efficiency through smart
monitoring systems, specialised training, and cooperation with international
partners.
Frank Baumann, CEO of Expotec Group, noted that the
exhibition was inspired by successful Egyptian-German cooperation in the water
sector, calling the model a true bridge for cooperation and knowledge transfer
for sustainable development in Egypt and the Arab region.
The exhibition covers over 10,000 square meters and includes exhibitors in areas such as drinking water, wastewater treatment, desalination, sludge management, industrial drainage, and the application of digital transformation and AI in water management. The event features interactive sessions and seminars on the latest treatment techniques, integrated solutions for rural villages, and Nature-Based Solutions.