OnNovember 5-6, 2019, the International Conference “Rational use of
water resources key for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” was held
in the hotel “Yildiz” of Ashgabat which gathered more than 60 experts from 10
countries of the world. The representatives of nine international and regional organizations which are
implementing the projects in the field of water resources management took part
in the work of the conference.
The State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan initiated the hosting of the given
Conference. The Global Water Partnership provided assistance and practical
support in the arrangement of this international meeting.
The participants of the Conference reported on the attainments and
achievements of their respective countries, shared experience gathered and
determined the most pertinent vectors of expanding and deepening regional
cooperation in the scope of reaching the Sustainable Development Goal 6 ensuring availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all.A number of reports of the
Conference were dedicated to the measures realized by the countries of the
region on reaching thetarget 6.5 which aims to implement the integrated water
resources management at all levels by 2030, including the trans- boundary cooperation whenever applicable.
The discussions on the role of the water partnership at the national and
regional levels in assessing the progress of resolving this issue took place. In
the result of the discussions held, the participants formulated the ideas on
strengthening regional cooperation, as well as enriched their understanding of
the role and opportunities of each party engaged in the process of implementing
the principles of integrated water resources management.
Upon completion of the main programme of the Conference, the
participants visited the objects equipped with water saving technologies. The hosting country also prepared a cultural programme for
the esteemed guests, during which they found an opportunity to visit the
Turkmen “Alabay” dog breed nursery-garden in Ak-Bugday region where they witnessed how carefully and
passionately the Turkmen people preserve their traditions and national cultural
heritage.