Central Asian Water Security Will Be Addressed at a Regional Forum in Tashkent
On March 25–26, the capital of Uzbekistan will host the International Forum "Tashkent Water Week 2026" This event, initiated by the government of the neighboring state, will be the first forum of this scale where Central Asian countries will attempt to find a collective response to the growing water crisis.
Amid climate change and a population boom, the question of "where to get water?" has ceased to be a technical one and has become a strategic priority for the entire region.
The main goal of the forum is to transform transboundary water management from a point of potential tension into an area of regional cooperation. Key discussion topics:
Trust Diplomacy: Finding Joint Solutions for Transboundary Water Exchange.
Digital Water: Implementing IT Innovations and Satellite Monitoring for Accurate Water Resource Management.
Agricultural Reboot: Adapting Irrigation Systems to Severe Water Shortages and Transitioning to Green Agricultural Standards.
The program, entitled "Central Asia and the Global Water Cycle," focuses not on discussing problems but on finding technological solutions. Participants will discuss food security and how to provide a growing population with food amid irrigation water shortages, intersectoral collaboration, and the water-energy-food nexus as a unified mechanism for sustainable development.
The week will also feature the International Water Olympiad—the region needs "water diplomats" and a new generation of engineers.
For Turkmenistan and its neighbors, efficient water use is the key to economic stability. The forum in Tashkent will be an important step in preparing for global water summits, allowing Central Asia to present a united front and express its interests in the global water cycle.
