Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and Asian Development Bank Sign Cooperation Memorandum
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the Asian Development Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, the press service of the Ministry reports. The document was signed by Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and ADB Country Director for Kazakhstan Utsav Kumar.
The memorandum outlines bilateral cooperation in attracting investments to the water sector, modernizing and constructing infrastructure, identifying priority projects that may be implemented with ADB support, and strengthening institutional capacity through staff training, knowledge exchange, and technical assistance. It also provides for the establishment of coordination centers to support joint initiatives and monitor their implementation.
The parties discussed Kazakhstan’s participation in ADB’s international program “From Glaciers to Farms,” aimed at preserving glaciers and enhancing resilience to their melting, including modernization of irrigation systems.
Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov emphasized that the ministry is actively working to attract investments for the development of Kazakhstan’s water sector in line with the President’s directives. He stated that cooperation is established with all major international financial institutions and reaffirmed that strategic decisions are made solely in Kazakhstan. The transfer of water resources or facilities to foreign states is not under consideration. The priority is to protect citizens’ interests and ensure sustainable national development.