Water, an issue that directly affects the future of Central Asia, will be a key topic on the international agenda this spring. An environmental summit in Astana will discuss resources for modernizing water infrastructure and how to avoid the growing water crisis in the region,  inbusiness.kz reports  , citing the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan .
“On April 23, as part of the RES 2026 Regional Environmental Summit, a thematic discussion entitled “Sustainable Financing of the Water Sector in Central Asia: Challenges, Opportunities, and Pathways for Cooperation” will be held in the capital of Kazakhstan. Experts will focus on identifying mechanisms for attracting investment and developing the financial instruments necessary for upgrading water management infrastructure ,” the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported.
The water sector plays a strategic role in ensuring sustainable socioeconomic and environmental development in Central Asian countries. Against the backdrop of climate change, population growth, and deteriorating infrastructure, issues of effective water resource management and funding mobilization are becoming increasingly pressing and require coordinated action at the regional level.
The panel session was initiated by the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which oversees strategic planning, budget policy, and the coordination of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Institute of Economic Research and the International Institute of Water Management are also among the organizers.
“The main goal of the discussion is to identify key challenges and opportunities for attracting the financial resources needed to develop water infrastructure, improve water resource management, and strengthen regional cooperation,” the agency noted.
The discussion will bring together representatives of central government water resources agencies from Central Asian countries, as well as international financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Leading experts and researchers working in the water sector will also join the dialogue.
The panel session is expected to result in practical recommendations aimed at strengthening financial mechanisms for water infrastructure development, improving the efficiency of water resource management, and expanding cooperation between countries in the region.
The Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026) will be one of the largest international platforms for discussing the environmental agenda. The event will take place from April 22 to 24, 2026, in Astana and will bring together approximately 1,500 delegates—representatives of governments, international organizations, businesses, and the scientific community.
The summit aims to unite the efforts of Central Asian and other countries to address the most pressing environmental issues, including climate change, water resource degradation, and sustainable management of natural resources.
The initiative to hold RES 2026 in partnership with the UN was announced by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan , Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in 2023.
Read on the topic:
Central Asian countries have agreed on the inflow of water into the Kazakh reservoir.
https://inbusiness.kz/ru/last/centralnaya-aziya-ishet-dengi-na-vodu