Uzbekistan and GEF Strengthen Ties Ahead of Samarkand Assembly

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are intensifying their cooperation in preparation for the VIII GEF Assembly, which is set to take place in Samarkand. These issues were discussed during a video meeting between Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and Claude Gascon, the fund's Chief Executive Officer.

The parties reviewed the organizational aspects of preparing for the upcoming event in detail, including the development of both business and cultural programs. Specifically, they reached an agreement to host cultural events at the "Eternal City" complex and to organize a youth art exhibition.

During the negotiations, the parties confirmed their readiness to sign an agreement on an internship program. This initiative will allow specialists from Uzbekistan to be stationed within GEF structures to exchange expertise and enhance their professional qualifications.

Furthermore, it was announced that US$5.4 million in funding has been approved for the regional project "Mountain Ecosystems of Central Asia," which will be implemented in participation with the World Bank. The GEF also invited Uzbekistan to consider applying for donor country status, which would allow the republic to participate in decision-making processes regarding the distribution of the fund's financial resources.

Additionally, an agreement was reached to hold a high-level round table dedicated to the launch of the "Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN)" regional program, which carries a total budget of US$26 million. The fund also expressed support for Uzbekistan's initiative to develop a project aimed at conserving populations of big cats in the region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the high level of their interaction and expressed mutual interest in further promoting sustainable development and addressing pressing environmental challenges across Central Asia.