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The event, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev, was attended by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFAS Askhat Orazbay, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Sulaimon Ziyozoda, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Tangrykuli Atakhalliyev, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan Shukhrat Ganiev, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan Dastan Dyushekeyev, Primeminister.kz reports.

The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was established in 1993 and is one of the key regional bodies in Central Asia. Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship of IFAS until 2026 and held the first meeting of the Board of the Fund on September 18.

IFAS has become a powerful collective instrument of regional cooperation, capable of influencing the socio-economic well-being in Central Asia. Thanks to close cooperation within IFAS and the political will of the heads of state, the Fund has managed to consolidate the efforts of member countries in solving the problems associated with the Aral crisis.

The meeting of the Board noted the need for a long-term mechanism for the mutually beneficial use of water and energy resources in the Aral Sea basin, coordinated actions on reservoir operating modes, taking into account energy and irrigation interests in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins.

Another priority is the further implementation of two large-scale projects: the Action Program to Assist the Aral Sea Basin Countries, within the framework of which 35 projects are being implemented in the region, and the Regional Environmental Protection Program for Sustainable Development in Central Asia.

On the same day, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the heads of delegations of the countries participating in the first meeting of the IFAS Board.

During the meeting, issues of joint use of transboundary water resources were discussed, as well as measures to further resolve environmental and socio-economic problems in the Aral Sea basin.

The need for further development of a comprehensive and mutually beneficial mechanism for water and energy cooperation in Central Asia, taking into account the interests of all parties, was noted. In particular, the introduction of the latest digital technologies, the use of satellite data from remote sensing of the earth, which will strengthen cooperation and ensure the saving of significant volumes of water resources.

In addition, in order to improve the efficiency of regulating energy and irrigation processes, there will be intensified work to develop and implement a single automated system for accounting, monitoring, management and distribution of water resources in the Aral Sea basin by the countries of the region. These measures are aimed at achieving a balance in covering the needs of countries and preventing a shortage of electricity in the autumn-winter period and irrigation water in the summer.

Also, among the priority tasks is the completion of the process of improving the organizational structure and the contractual and legal framework of IFAS. Today, a working group of experts is conducting the relevant work.

During the meeting, proposals were made by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Ziyozoda Sulaymon, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Tangryguli Atakhalliyev, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan Shukhrat Ganiev.

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Photo: primeminister.kz