Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A two-day seminar titled “Transboundary Waters: A Driver of Sustainable Development” was held at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, as part of the regional Dostyk: Diplomacy program launched by KazAID in 2024.

Ten diplomats and government officials from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the training. Participants represented foreign ministries and relevant agencies responsible for shaping and implementing water resource policy.

The program aimed to strengthen regional cooperation on transboundary water management as a key element of sustainable development in Central Asia. Topics covered during the seminar included the rational use of water resources, their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and best practices in the implementation of international water-related projects.

Special attention was given to interstate cooperation on preserving and rehabilitating the Aral Sea basin, as well as financing water management programs in the region through international financial institutions.

Speakers included representatives from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development, and the International Water Management Institute.

The training was offered free of charge as part of KazAID’s grant support. In addition to the professional program, participants also took part in cultural events that offered deeper insight into the history and modern development of Astana.

KazAID continues to expand platforms for regional cooperation aimed at fostering good-neighborly relations and developing coordinated approaches to shared challenges, particularly in the areas of ecology, water resources, and sustainable development.