Kazakhstan is developing a draft
agreement on the creation of a water-energy cooperation mechanism among Central
Asian countries. The country’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation
Nurzhan Nurzhigitov previously reached an agreement on the supply of water to
Kazakhstan via the Dostyk interstate canal during the irrigation season. Under
this agreement, regional countries will supply water to Kazakhstan through the
Shu and Talas rivers, with Uzbekistan providing 922 million cubic meters and
the Kyrgyz Republic over half a billion cubic meters. An agreement has also
been reached with Uzbekistan on the installation of meters to accurately
measure water consumption of both countries. Moreover, the relevant ministry
has signed memorandums of cooperation with a number of foreign universities to
train qualified personnel in the sector.
«The Ministry of Water Resources
and Irrigation has signed memorandums of cooperation with nine universities,
enabling students to undergo practical training at branches of the state
enterprise «Kazvodkhoz». Dulati Taraz Regional University has also signed a
memorandum with the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural
Mechanization Engineers for a joint double-degree program. Thus, students of
the Kazakh university specializing in water sector fields will also be able to
receive a diploma from the educational institution in the neighboring country,»
said ¤Moldir Abdualiyeva, spokesperson for the Kazakh Ministry of Water
Resources and Irrigation.
Additionally, the Kazakh
Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has signed cooperation memorandums
with the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the implementation of flood prevention
measures and training of water sector specialists. Another international
document marks Kazakhstan’s accession to the UN Convention on the Law of the
Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses.
