Ashgabat, 22 January 2026 — As part of their working visit to Turkmenistan, Barbara Janusz-Pawletta, Head of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Representation in Central Asia, and Alexandr Nikolayenko , Head of Project “Blue Peace Central Asia”, participated in the working meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan.
Mahtumkuli Akmuradov, Adviser on environmental issues, took part in the meeting on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan was represented by Yanov Pashyyev, Head of the Water Management Department, and Saparmyrat Charyyev, Head of the Digital Technologies and Information Security Department. Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office, participated in the meeting on behalf of the project office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan.
Opening the meeting, the participants expressed mutual appreciation for the opportunity for dialogue and emphasized the importance of developing practical cooperation in the field of water resources management in the Central Asian region.
During the meeting, Alexandr Nikolayenko presented the “Blue Peace Central Asia” project, talking about its goals and main areas of work, as well as outlining key topics that are planned to be developed in the region, including water quality, adaptation of water resources, and improving data management. The parties also exchanged views on the most relevant next steps for Turkmenistan and possible formats for providing expert support.
In addition, capacity building was identified as one of the areas of cooperation, including cooperation with universities in Central Asian countries, with the support of national partners.
Mahtumkuli Akmuradov reaffirmed the Turkmen side’s interest in continuing cooperation and emphasized the importance of continued joint work to enhance regional cooperation.“
Such working meetings provide a solid foundation for building a trust-based dialogue and practical cooperation. Joint efforts on water quality, adaptation of water resources, and data management help identify solutions that serve the interests of all countries in the region”, noted Mergen Kepbanov at the conclusion of the meeting.
The participants emphasized that such formats of dialogue play an important role in strengthening regional cooperation, facilitating the exchange of experience, and contributing to the development of coordinated approaches to the sustainable management of water resources in Central Asia.
Additional information:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, turkmenistan@carececo.org