Representatives of project key stakeholders including UNDP, the State Committee for Nature Protection of Uzbekistan, Center for Hydro meteorological service, Ministries of Economy and Finance, State Committee on Land resources, Surveying, Cartography, and State Cadastre, Academy for State and Social Construction and others joined the meeting aimed at discussion and approval of a number of important documents including the Statute on Project Board, project Inception Report and Annual Work Plan for 2010, thus establishing a solid foundation for their joint work and effective implementation of the project.

The project was launched in May 2009 and is aimed at assisting Uzbekistan to enhance its national capacity for more effective environmental management, by improved national environmental policy planning and financing. Worth to point out the unique nature of the project, since it is focused on enhancing cross-cutting capacity building of the government institutions involved into national environment planning and management The Project Board is a collectively governed body which is responsible for coordination of project activities, providing strategic guidance and support to project team and promoting close cooperation and collaboration among all stakeholders.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kamoliddin Sadikov, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Nature Protection (SCNP) who opened the event and delivered welcome speech on behalf of Mr. Nariman Umarov, Chairman of SCNP, and National Project Coordinator.

Mr. Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov, Head of UNDP Environment and Energy Unit addressed participants with welcome note on behalf of Ms. Kyoko Postill, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. Further Mr. Fayzulla Salakhuddinov, Project Manager made a brief presentation of project goals, objectives and expected results. He also provided brief information to Board members on project activities in 2009 including the conduction of Inception Workshop and preparation of Inception report. Further the Annual Work Plan for 2010 was presented for the discussion. Meeting participants discussed and provided their comments on information provided and other submitted documents.

Summarizing the outcomes of discussion Project Board members approved the Statute on Project Board, Inception report and the project Annual Work Plan for 2010. It is expected that common view and position of all stakeholders on project strategy and planned activities will further contribute to the effective implementation of the project.