On October 10, 2025, the meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held in Astana under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. K. Bozumbayev. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. S. Ziyozoda; Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Sh. Ganiyev; Minister of Agriculture of Turkmenistan, Mr. Ch. Chetiyev; and Deputy Director of the Water Resources Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. A. Dzhayloobaev, who participated as an observer.
The participants engaged in discussions on key issues within the mandate of IFAS, including the integrated use of water resources, environmental protection, socio-economic development, and the improvement of institutional and legal frameworks. Following the discussions, the Board approved seven documents.
The Board members emphasized the importance of enhancing joint efforts to implement the Fund’s two main strategic documents up to 2030 — the Fourth Aral Sea Basin Program (ASBP-4) and the Regional Environmental Program for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD-CA).
Furthermore, the parties agreed to consider at the next Board meeting the proposal to establish and proclaim March 26 as the International Day of the Aral Sea, the Amudarya, and the Syrdarya rivers. This initiative is expected to generate a positive multiplier effect and contribute to strengthening regional cooperation among the countries of Central Asia.
