Tashkent – Uzbekistan – 17 November 2025 – the newly adopted Water Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan discussed at the Conference on the International Water Cooperation and Improvement of the Water Legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
“Although the official programme covered a wide range of topics, the main focus of discussions, presentations, and expert exchanges centered on the new Code and the institutional and practical changes it introduces to the country’s water resources management system,” said Director of the CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Rakhimjonov, stressing that the Water Code became a pivotal topic of the event.
The conference brought together representatives of ministries, international organizations, diplomatic missions, academic institutions, and the expert community. The agenda focused on the modernization of water legislation, the introduction of contemporary mechanisms for water resources management, institutional reforms, and the strengthening of international cooperation in the water sector.
Irina Yugay, Acting Manager of the Water Initiatives Support Programme of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), highlighted CAREC’s activities, the promotion of basin management principles, and key achievements under the project on Climate-Resilient Integrated Water Resources Management in the Zarafshan River Basin during Panel I, which was dedicated to water resources governance. Her detailed update on the institutionalisation process of the Zarafshan Basin Council attracted particular interest among conference participants.
During the conference, it was emphasized that CAREC, in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, is implementing the project “Climate-Resilient Integrated Water Resources Management in the Zarafshan River Basin.” Within this project, CAREC is tasked with establishing and strengthening the institutional foundations of the Zarafshan River Basin Council. Today, the Council is already functioning successfully, and work to secure its full legal and institutional status is ongoing.
“The adoption of the new Water Code is a significant step for the entire water resources management system. We see growing interest in basin-level governance and practical instruments such as the Zarafshan Basin Council. CAREC stands ready to further contribute to this important process,” said Director of the CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Rakhimjonov, commenting on the ongoing reforms in the water sector.
The conference served as an important expert platform to discuss the key provisions of the new Water Code, future reform directions, and to exchange international experience on developing modern water governance and integrated water resources management.
Additional Information:
Nodirbek Rakhimjonov
Director, CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan uzbekistan@carececo.org