A working meeting with Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan, took place on July 22, 2025, at the office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Representation in Turkmenistan. At the beginning of the meeting, the parties introduced themselves and discussed the areas of activity of their organizations, as well as current and potential areas of cooperation.
Mergen Kepbanov provided a detailed overview of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), its mission, objectives, organizational structure, and offices located in Central Asian countries.
He paid special attention to key initiatives being implemented in the region. In particular, Mergen Kepbanov noted the successful organization of the Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2025), which was held in May of this year in Turkmenistan with the support of the Government of Turkmenistan, the World Bank, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The event brought together more than 600 participants and became a significant platform for regional climate dialogue. It was also emphasized that as of July 2025, the position of Executive Director of CAREC is held by Batyr Kurbangeldyevich Mamedov.
On behalf of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the meeting was attended by Eric Livny, Head of the EBRD Representative Office in Turkmenistan, Anna Kresic, Head of Regional Policy for Central Asia and Mongolia, Nurgul Esenamanova, Head of Regional Policy and Strategy at the EBRD Resident Office in Bishkek Ayda Rysbekova, Analyst at the Economic Department and Benjamin Peel, Principal Climate and Nature Specialist at EBRD.
The EBRD representatives spoke about the process of preparing the Bank's new five-year environmental strategy. In this regard, they expressed interest in learning more about CAREC's priorities and expert potential, as well as identifying possible areas for further cooperation.
In response, Mergen Kepbanov proposed exploring cooperation in the field of waste management, noting that this is one of the priority areas in Turkmenistan. He shared that previously, as part of an initiative by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, a thematic waste management publication was developed. According to him, the regulatory framework in this area is evolving — the Law of Turkmenistan “On Waste” of 2015 is in force, along with several bylaws. It was also emphasized that Turkmenistan welcomes international initiatives aimed at improving waste management systems, and that implementing a joint project with the EBRD in this area would be timely and relevant.
Mergen Kepbanov also touched upon other aspects of CAREC’s work, including the implementation of the Central Asian Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable Development (CALP), and familiarized the meeting participants with ongoing projects being implemented by CAREC in the region. Among them is the regional component of the “One Health” programme, in which CAREC serves as the regional secretariat, coordinating inter-country cooperation on ecosystem resilience and pandemic prevention. He noted cooperation with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) within the Blue Peace initiative, aimed at fair water resources management, as well as CAREC’s involvement in coordinating the Regional Task Force on Education for Just and Inclusive Energy Transition in Central Asia (RTEET), established jointly with the OSCE. In addition, Mergen Kepbanov mentioned the CA CBMER project on reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, as well as a climate risk management project aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and building knowledge in this field.
At the end of the meeting, the parties exchanged words of appreciation and expressed readiness for further constructive cooperation. The representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development confirmed their interest in active engagement with the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, particularly on environmental protection and sustainable development issues.
Additional information:
Mergen Kepbanov – Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, turkmenistan@carececo.org