The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, is hosting the third meeting of the Basin Dialogues in the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins, as well as the Partnership Dialogue of Development Partners.
As Uzbek media report, the event is being held within the framework of the regional program “Water Resources Management in Central Asia Taking into account Climate Impacts” and is aimed at strengthening partnerships and agreeing on further steps in the field of water resources management.
The meeting brings together representatives relevant ministries of Central Asian countries, international organizations and programs working in the field of water resources. The main goal is to create a sustainable platform for the exchange of experience, discuss the results of events held in honor of the Days of the Amudarya and Syr Darya Rivers, as well as develop joint measures to adapt the water sector to climate change.
Head of the Program of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan Andreas Unterstaller noted that the Basin Dialogue remains a key mechanism for building confidence in the region.
“Water, energy and climate are the foundation of a sustainable future for the Central Asia. Thanks to structured cooperation and initiatives within the framework of the EU Global Portal program, we are already seeing the implementation of concrete projects and strategic investments,” said Unterstaller.
GIZ Director for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Joachim Fritz emphasized the importance of consolidating efforts. “Sustainable management of water resources is only possible with close cooperation between all countries in the region. Joint work, exchange of knowledge and the formation of long-term solutions are our common priorities,” he said.
Deputy Head of Mission of the Swiss Embassy in Uzbekistan Andrin Fink drew attention to the importance of dialogue for coordinating actions. “Exchanging experiences and finding joint solutions helps ensure efficient, equitable and sustainable use of water resources and preserve ecosystems for future generations,” he said.
As part of the discussions, participants reviewed the main results of the GIZ project | SDC | EU for 2025 and proposals for the action plan for 2026, joint initiatives to preserve the ecosystems of the Amu Darya basin, including zones of runoff formation and dispersion; work in the Syrdarya basin in the direction of “Increasing resilience to climate change through assessing infrastructure development options (Nexus approach)”; mechanisms of economic cooperation in the Amu Darya basin in the context of decisions taken at the level of heads of state.
Participants also get acquainted with the results of grant projects implemented jointly with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK Finland) and the State Water Management Enterprise of Slovakia – Vodohospodárska výstavba.
At the end of the meeting, the parties will agree on further steps to introduce climate-resilient management approaches water resources and discuss ways to increase the efficiency of joint projects.