The Red Sea Forum for Energy and Sustainable Tourism has concluded its first edition, held under the patronage of the Red Sea Governorate and organized by ECO Solutions for solar energy and environmental solutions. It saw wide participation from around 50 government and private entities, hotels and tourist resorts, along with representatives of the Hurghada Safari Association, the Canal Electricity Distribution Company, the Red Sea Water and Wastewater Company, the Environmental Affairs Agency, the National Council for Women, the Red Sea Engineers Syndicate, a number of commercial companies and financing institutions.
The forum discussed ways to support the transition to clean energy, strengthen integration between the energy and tourism sectors and link renewable energy projects with sustainable tourism development plans, in line with Egypt Vision 2030, the National Sustainable Energy Strategy and the efforts of the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy to increase the share of clean energy in the energy mix, as well as supporting the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' drive to expand the application of environmental sustainability standards in tourism establishments.
Eng. Ahmed Dahy, CEO of ECO Solutions, said the forum stemmed from the company's vision of the need for a platform bringing together, for the first time, all stakeholders in the energy and tourism sectors in the Red Sea Governorate, including government bodies, investors, experts and local and international companies. He explained that the main goal is to close the coordination gap between these parties and turn dialogue into real projects and investment opportunities that support the transition to a green economy.
Dahy added that the forum is a practical step to support the state's efforts to expand renewable energy projects and strengthen private sector participation in implementing clean energy solutions in tourism, stressing that sustainability in tourism increasingly depends on expanding the use of solar energy and energy efficiency solutions, helping to cut operating costs, reduce carbon emissions and raise the competitiveness of Egypt as a destination.
He explained that bringing the energy and tourism sectors together in one forum reflects how closely they are linked: tourism is one of the most energy-intensive sectors, while the Red Sea Governorate has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, offering great opportunities to expand solar energy projects in hotels, resorts and tourism facilities.
He noted that the forum saw agreement to start cooperation between ECO Solutions and the Red Sea Engineers Syndicate to launch specialized training programs in the design, installation and operation of solar energy systems, helping to prepare qualified engineering and technical personnel to support the renewable energy market, along with cooperation meetings with a number of participating companies and institutions. The forum also saw the participation of China's GoodWe, one of the world's largest manufacturers of solar energy components and systems, which presented the latest solutions and technologies in solar energy and energy storage.
Dahy said ECO Solutions is currently implementing a number of solar energy projects for the tourism and industrial sectors, as well as seawater desalination projects using renewable energy, electric vehicle charging stations and smart guest room management systems (GRMS), which help raise operational efficiency, rationalize energy consumption and improve the operational performance of tourism establishments.
He added that the company aims in the coming phase to expand its renewable energy projects and study the establishment of a specialized center for training and knowledge transfer in solar energy and sustainable solutions, in cooperation with local and international partners, supporting the localization of technology and the qualification of national personnel in line with the state's drive to deepen local manufacturing and develop clean energy industries.
He noted that the tourism sector is seeing rapid growth in demand for solar energy solutions and energy storage systems, as hotels and resorts seek to cut operating costs and comply with global sustainability standards. The forum also saw the participation of a number of banks, including Banque Misr, the National Bank of Egypt and QNB, which presented financing programs dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and opened direct channels of communication with investors and owners of tourism establishments.
The CEO of ECO Solutions said the company aims to turn the Red Sea Forum for Energy and Sustainable Tourism into an annual event bringing together government bodies, the private sector, financing institutions and international companies, becoming a national platform for exchanging expertise, showcasing the latest technologies, attracting investment and supporting the state's goals of transitioning to a green economy and increasing reliance on renewable energy.
For his part, Eng. Ziad El Sokkary, a board member of ECO Solutions, said the forum reflects the growing interest of various sectors in adopting clean energy solutions, stressing that the coming phase requires stronger partnerships between the private sector, government bodies and financing institutions to accelerate renewable energy projects, especially in tourist governorates.
El Sokkary explained that the forum produced a number of recommendations, led by expanding the use of solar energy and energy storage systems in tourism establishments, encouraging seawater desalination projects using renewable energy, supporting energy efficiency and smart building applications, strengthening public-private cooperation and expanding training and qualification programs for engineering and technical personnel.
El Sokkary affirmed that ECO Solutions continues to bring the latest global technologies to the Egyptian market through its partnerships with major international companies, helping to support the state's strategy of expanding renewable energy, strengthen the competitiveness of the tourism sector and establish the Red Sea as a leading model for clean energy and sustainable tourism applications in Egypt and the region.
