Working Visit of Representatives of the IFAS Founding States to Kyzylorda Region: Key Issues in the Development of the Northern Aral Sea Region

26–28 October 2026, Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan

Representatives of the IFAS Founding States serving on the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) — Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — undertook a working visit to the Kyzylorda Region, during which they familiarized themselves with the socio-economic, water management and environmental situation in the Northern Aral Sea region. The delegation visited the Kokaral Dam, the Aral Geopark and other facilities.

A roundtable entitled “The Aral Sea Basin: Water Diplomacy, Current Issues and Ways Forward” was also held in the city of Aralsk.

During the meetings, members of the IFAS Executive Committee discussed a number of important issues, including:

• Results of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship of IFAS for the 2024–2026 period;

• Implementation of the Fourth Aral Sea Basin Programme (ASBP-4);

• The Dushanbe Water Process: glacier preservation, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in Central Asia;

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation: strengthening the capacity of national hydrometeorological services in Central Asia and addressing natural disasters;

• Combating desertification and land degradation in Central Asia: international experience and best national practices;

• A regional vision for the development of the water and energy mechanism in the context of current challenges.

The event was organized with the support of the Executive Directorate of IFAS in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Swiss Blue Peace Central Asia initiative, within the framework of the Memoranda of Understanding concluded between the parties.

In 2012, the Northern Aral Sea and the Syr Darya River Delta were designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan continues to take all necessary measures to ensure their preservation.