Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel Aaati described as a "historic event" the signing of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) impact studies contracts with the two French consultancy firms BRL and Artelia on Tuesday.

Giving a word at the signing ceremony, the minister said that the signing of the GERD contracts crowned great efforts exerted years ago, adding "We have faced serious challenges together, but we managed to overcome them via exerting more effort and showing flexibility."

The three countries pledged to commit to what has been agreed upon, the minister said, underlining that the two French firms will conduct the necessary studies on the environmental, social and economic impact of the Ethiopian dam on the downstream countries. 

The contracts were signed by the head of the Egyptian, Sudanese and Ethiopian technical delegates Ahmed Bahaa, Seif al Din Hamad and Gedion Asfaw. 

The final contracts signing ceremony was attended by the Egyptian, Sudanese and Ethiopian irrigation ministers, Mohamed Abdel Aati, Moataz Moussa and Ato Wubeshet Demeke, respectively, as well as Egypt's ambassador in Khartoum Osama Shaltout. 

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the two French companies as well as a representative of the UK-based law firm Corbett that was selected to manage the legal affairs of the tripartite committee on the Dam.

Source: MENA