Session on Water and Energy Cooperation in Central Asia, Organized by CAREC and CAWEP, Concludes with the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Executive Committee of IFAS

On 23 April 2026 in Astana, within the framework of the Regional Environmental Summit 2026 and the Central Asian Climate Change Conference, the session “The Economics of Water-Energy Cooperation in Central Asia under Climate Change Conditions” was held. The session was organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia and the Central Asia Water and Energy Program of the World Bank (CAWEP-4).

The Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS, A. Orazbay, delivered a welcoming speech and briefly informed participants about the joint launch with CAWEP-4 of the “Regional Integration and Electricity Trade in the Regional Market in Central Asia” (REMIT) Programme, aimed at establishing a pilot regional electricity market, strengthening institutional structures, and creating an enabling environment for the development of the electricity market. He also noted the ongoing development of a grant-based Regional Cooperation Project for Central Asian countries aimed at improving water use efficiency.

The Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS, S. Bekmaganbetov, took part in a panel discussion on the role of the Fund in strengthening and expanding water-energy cooperation among Central Asian countries under conditions of climate change and varying water availability regimes.
It should be noted that within the framework of the session, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Executive Committee of the IFAS and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, part of the World Bank Group, aimed at further developing partnership in the Aral Sea basin.