Mirziyoyev: water scarcity is an increasingly serious constraint on Central Asia's development
At the 8th Consultative Meeting in Avaza, the President of Uzbekistan called for regional cooperation on water losses, irrigation, climate and air pollution.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev called on Central Asian countries to jointly address water and climate change. 'Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly serious constraint on the development of Central Asia,' he said.
He spoke on 8 October 2026 at the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan in the Avaza zone of Turkmenistan. The president stressed that 'Significant water losses are costing our region far too much'.
Proposed measures
Mirziyoyev proposed modern digital monitoring systems, modernisation of irrigation networks, wide adoption of water-saving technologies, and implementation of a 'Decade of Practical Action for the Rational Use of Water Resources in Central Asia'.
Dialogue with Afghanistan
The president called for continuing a regular, expert-level, substantive dialogue with Afghanistan on shared water use, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region.
Air pollution and the Aral Sea
Mirziyoyev described air pollution as a pressing problem for Central Asian cities and proposed an International Consortium 'Clean Air of Central Asia' and an environmental-modernisation programme for industrial zones, agro-clusters and transport hubs.
He also announced that Uzbekistan will assume the chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea next year.
