TASHKENT—Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) have formalized their collaboration on groundwater management through a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This agreement, aiming to bolster specific projects within the field, marks a significant step towards enhancing bilateral cooperation in sustainable water resource management.

According to Trend News Agency, the MoU was signed during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology, Omonullo Nasritdinkhodjaev, and GIZ representatives including Joachim Fritz, head of GIZ, and Caroline Milow, head of the Green Central Asia Program. The parties expressed a mutual commitment to elevate their cooperation to new heights, focusing particularly on groundwater projects. The document outlines future collaborative efforts that are expected to contribute substantially to the region’s water conservation and climate adaptation initiatives.

The need for such cooperation has been underscored by Uzbekistan’s recent endeavors in water resource management. The country has launched multiple projects aimed at the rational use of water resources, maintaining the state water cadastre, developing a unified Central Asian information system on groundwater, and adapting to climate change impacts on water resource protection.

Moreover, the bilateral trade data between Uzbekistan and Germany was also reviewed during the discussions. From January to August 2024, the trade turnover volume reached $679.4 million, experiencing a slight decline of 4.2 percent compared to the $708.3 million recorded during the same period in 2023. This economic exchange highlights the ongoing financial interactions that complement the environmental and technological collaboration under the new MoU.