Cooperation on Aral Basin Issues Discussed at Trilateral Online Meeting

The Hague, February 26, 2025 – Issues of international cooperation in water management, including the implementation of joint projects to address the problems of the Aral Sea basin, specialist training programs, and the use of the expertise of the world-renowned IHE Delft Institute for Water Education at the work of Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation, were on the agenda of a trilateral online meeting. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), A. Orazbay, the Rector of IHE Delft, Prof. E. Moors, and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Netherlands, K. Abdrakhmanov.

During the lively exchange of views, the participants emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling climate challenges and discussed prospects for strengthening partnerships in water resource management through capacity-building programs and joint research. Special attention was given to various aspects of environmental protection and the rehabilitation of ecologically degraded areas in the Aral Sea basin, which is not only a regional but also a global environmental priority.

As a result of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the IFAS Executive Committee and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. This marked another step toward expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, and Central Asian countries, reflecting the growing regional engagement and opening new opportunities for joint initiatives.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the leadership and experts of IHE Delft for their invaluable support during the devastating floods in certain regions of Kazakhstan in the spring of 2024.

The active role of the Netherlands Embassy in Astana, which is also accredited in other Central Asian states, was also noted. The parties agreed to identify specific projects for implementation, including initiatives to enhance the capacity of official and research institutions in Central Asia, which will elevate bilateral and multilateral cooperation to a new level.