Uzbekistan adopts Water Code

Uzbekistan adopts Water Code

The International Conference on Water Cooperation, held in Tashkent on November 17, became a platform for practical support for these initiatives. At the conference, international financial institutions and experts discussed issues such as water-saving management, transboundary cooperation, and modernization of irrigation systems.
The main event of the event was the presentation of the new Water Code of Uzbekistan. This code includes principles such as water use rights, regulatory mechanisms, ecosystem protection, and the harmonious management of surface and groundwater. Foreign experts assessed the code as a “historic step” and noted that it creates a solid legal foundation for future reforms.
In recent years, water-saving technologies have been introduced in Uzbekistan on more than 2 million hectares of land, and a concept and state programs for the water sector have been developed. UNDP representative Akiko Fujii stated that water has become a key pillar of climate policy in the new NDC 3.0 strategy.
During the conference, it was emphasized that the Water Code creates confidence for investors, fair supply for the population and transparent governance for the state. Also, issues of strengthening cooperation on the Amu Darya and Syrdarya rivers, supporting the population of the Aral Sea, increasing water education and scientific capacity were considered. Plans were also put forward to establish a regional competence center based on the Tashkent Irrigation Institute.
The fact that the conference was held in Uzbekistan once again confirmed the country's prestige in the region, its openness to water diplomacy and its readiness to jointly solve transboundary problems.