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Shavkat Mirziyoyev named six priorities of Uzbekistan in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

Uzbekistan intends to turn the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) into one of the key drivers of regional integration. Among the country’s priorities during its chairmanship next year is the development and modernization of the Fund’s activities, synchronization of its agenda with the decisions of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, as well as increasing the effectiveness of programs and projects, Podrobno.uz correspondent reports.



Six priorities of the Republic`s chairmanship in the fundnamedPresident of the country Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a meeting of the Council of Heads of State - founders of the Fund. He clarified that to improve the structure and legal framework, a regional working group has already been created and 15 meetings have been held.



“We sincerely hope for the resumption of full participation of the fraternal Kyrgyz Republic in the activities of IFAS, which will contribute to the adoption of more balanced and long-term decisions of the Fund,” the president said.



Within the framework of the Fourth Aral Sea Basin Program, 34 regional projects are envisaged, but a unified approach to assessing their effectiveness has not yet been developed. Therefore, it is proposed to introduce key performance indicators.



It is also planned to use the platform of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region, expanding its mandate and geography to the entire Aral Sea basin. The Fund will have to establish practical cooperation with regional structures on water and energy issues, glacier conservation, adaptation to climate change and combating desertification, including jointly with the Center for Combating Desertification at the Green University in Tashkent.



A separate priority is the revival of the traditions of caring for water. It is proposed to launch a regional program “Water of the Future” with practical training for farmers and industrialists in the use of water-saving technologies through a system of continuing education.



Uzbekistan declared its readiness for active interaction with international partners, financial institutions and expert analytical structures to implement all of the listed priorities.



Shavkat Mirziyoyev flew to the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, on a working visit the day before, on April 21. Heparticipatesat the Regional Environmental Summit and the meeting of the Council of Heads of Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.



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