For reference: in July of this year, Akiko Fujii, who has more than 25 years of experience in UNDP, was appointed the new permanent representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan. Previously, she was Permanent Representative to the Maldives and Deputy Permanent Representative to Vietnam, a multi-country office in Fiji (covering Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu), and Jamaica. She has also held various positions in Sudan, Tokyo, and Pakistan.

On the sidelines of the meeting, negotiations were held on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Ministry of Ecology and UNDP, the implementation of joint ongoing projects worth over 10 million US dollars, as well as preparation for the launch of new projects with a total budget of 20 million US dollars in the fields of biodiversity conservation, wetlands of the Aral Sea region, afforestation, waste management, dangerous chemicals, etc. 

A. Abdukhakimov was provided with information on the large-scale environmental reforms carried out by the government of the country, including the creation of the Climate Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the implementation of the national project "Yashil Makon", a campaign for afforestation on an area of 2 million hectares at the bottom of the Aral Sea, and other initiatives. 

"Currently, we are in the process of a radical transformation not only of the Ministry of Ecology but also of the entire environmental protection complex. Solving environmental problems and improving environmental management is a priority in Uzbekistan", said the minister.

Following the meeting, the parties signed an Agreement on cooperation in the implementation of the project "Master Planning and innovative financial solutions to support the implementation of the Yashil Makon initiative", and an agreement was reached at the beginning of the next stage of the Small Grants Program, which will be launched in 2025.

For information: The Small Grants Program, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to empower local communities, including districts, associations, farmers, and academic institutions, by involving them in landscape approaches throughout Uzbekistan. 

At the end of the meeting, a solemn ceremony was held for the transfer of professional equipment to 8 protected natural areas (PNA) acquired as part of a joint project of the Ministry of Ecology, UNDP, and GEF—"Aral  wetlands".