Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On the third day of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, a panel session titled “Ceasing Water Resources: Solutions, Strategies, and state Priorities” was held, where the current challenges in the region and the measures taken by the government to mitigate them were discussed.

The session was moderated by Shea Flynn, Director of Sustainable Development at Coca-Cola, who focused on Uzbekistan’s water policy and the role of international partnerships:

“We have strong traditions in the rational use of water. Over the last decade, we have successfully replenished more than 100% of the water used in our finished beverages, returning it to communities and the environment. In 2025, we reassessed our voluntary environmental goals and decided not to limit ourselves to a global approach but to focus on specific water-scarce regions. We are targeting 200 watersheds worldwide, where, together with our partners – the Coca-Cola Foundation and our bottlers, such as Coca-Cola Ichimligi in Uzbekistan – we will implement water replenishment projects where they are needed the most,” stated Flynn.

To discuss specific strategies and solutions to Uzbekistan's water issues, experts from various international organizations and companies were invited.

Speakers included:

• Chetan Kapoor, Partner, Synergy Consulting
• Silvère Delauna, Senior Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer for Central Asia & Caucasus, Suez
• Odete Duarte Muximpua, Senior Water Supply and Sanitation. Specialist, World Bank
• Khurshid Rakhmatullayev, Deputy Chairman of the Board “Uzsuvtaminot” JSC
• Khusan Khasanov, Representative of Islamic Development Bank in Uzbekistan
• Abdulwahab Sharif, Chief Operating Officer, TAQA Water Solutions
• Arantxa Mencia Saeta, Vice President of Business Development, ALMAR Water Solutions

In response to the moderator's question about cooperation strategies with the private sector and civil society, Khurshid Rakhmatullaev, Deputy Chairman of the Board at “Uzsuvtaminot” JSC, emphasized Uzbekistan's critical dependence on transboundary rivers and the specifics of water usage: “96% of the resources are not intended for drinking purposes. The primary task of ‘Uzsuvtaminot’ is to ensure the targeted use of 4% of drinking water exclusively for the population. We are actively implementing investment projects in water supply (more than $2 billion in current projects, up to $4 billion by 2040) and emphasizing the importance of ensuring adequate water reserves.” Rakhmatullaev also highlighted the role of digitization and the reduction of unaccounted water losses, which reach up to 30%, and the need to foster responsible consumer attitudes toward water resources.

Odete Duarte Muximpua, Lead Specialist in Water Supply and Sanitation at the World Bank, highlighted the severe infrastructure deficit in Uzbekistan: “Around 7 million people do not have access to safe water supply and sanitation, and only one-third of wastewater is treated. Effective management and the availability of qualified personnel are crucial.” She added: “We have been a long-time partner of the country. Under our current collaboration, we are implementing investment projects totaling approximately $700 million. Our focus is on investing in infrastructure to provide quality services and improve efficiency. But we are doing this through partnerships. Today, the deficit is not only in water resources but also in financial resources. No investor can solve the full range of problems facing the sector alone. That is why partnerships are essential: between governments, between government structures and international financial institutions, and, even more importantly, between these structures and the private sector. The government is already working on several reforms, including tariff policy reform, the creation of asset registers, and other initiatives that will make the sector more transparent and open to partners. The World Bank, together with other financial institutions, is ready to support the government, the private sector, and all stakeholders in this process.”

Continuing the discussion on various aspects of water resource management in Uzbekistan, Khusan Khasanov, representative of the Islamic Development Bank, provided information about IDB’s strategic directions and investment projects in this area.

“The Islamic Development Bank views Uzbekistan’s water resources as a priority area. We are not just providing financing, but we are striving for a comprehensive solution to the problem, covering all key aspects of sustainable water use. We advocate for pooling resources, including government budgets, private investments, and international donor aid, to implement integrated water projects. The IDB is ready to continue supporting Uzbekistan in solving water issues using the most modern and effective approaches,” stated Khasanov.

Thus, the session served as a crucial platform for discussing Uzbekistan's strategic priorities in water management and strengthening international cooperation. It reaffirmed the country's commitment to sustainable development and partnership in water resource protection, which is reflected in the active involvement of international financial institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank.