The meeting, chaired by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, was attended by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFAS Askhat Orazbay, Tajikistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Sulaymon Ziyozoda, Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers Tangryguly Atahallyev, Uzbekistan Presidential Advisor Shukhrat Ganiev, and Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Dastan Dyushekeev, according to Primeminister.kz.
Founded in 1993, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) is a key regional body in Central Asia. Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship of IFAS until 2026 and held the first meeting of the board on September 18.
IFAS has become a powerful collective tool for regional cooperation, influencing the socio-economic well-being of Central Asia. Through close collaboration within IFAS and the political will of the heads of state, the Fund has managed to consolidate the efforts of member countries in addressing the Aral Sea crisis.
During the meeting, the need for a long-term mechanism for the mutually beneficial use of water and energy resources in the Aral Sea basin was highlighted, with a focus on coordinated actions regarding reservoir operations considering the energy and irrigation interests in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins.
Priority was also given to the continued implementation of two major projects: the Action Program for Assistance to the Countries of the Aral Sea Basin, which includes 35 projects in the region, and the Regional Environmental Protection Program for Sustainable Development in Central Asia.
On the same day, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with the heads of delegations from the participating countries of the first IFAS Board meeting.
Discussions during the meeting addressed the joint use of transboundary water resources, as well as measures to further resolve ecological and socio-economic issues in the Aral Sea basin.
The importance of developing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial water-energy cooperation mechanism in Central Asia, taking into account the interests of all parties, was emphasized. The introduction of advanced digital technologies and the use of satellite data for remote earth sensing will strengthen cooperation and significantly save water resources.
Moreover, to improve the regulation of energy and irrigation processes, efforts will be intensified to develop and implement a unified automated system for accounting, monitoring, managing, and distributing water resources in the Aral Sea basin. These measures aim to balance the needs of the countries, prevent energy shortages in autumn-winter, and ensure irrigation water supply in the summer.
Another priority is completing the improvement of IFAS’s organizational structure and legal framework. Expert working groups are currently addressing these tasks.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Sulaymon Ziyozoda, Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers Tangryguly Atahallyev, and Uzbekistan Presidential Advisor Shukhrat Ganiev also presented their proposals.
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