“A serious problem for sustainable development of the Central Asian region is the lack of water resources. According to the calculations of the World Bank, by 2050, water resources in the Syr Darya basin are expected to decrease by 5%, and in the Amu Darya basin – by 15%. By 2050, a shortage of fresh water in Central Asia could lead to a drop in GDP by 11%,” Khakimov said, speaking at a panel session at the annual meeting of the IDB Board of Governors in Tashkent.

According to the UN, countries in the region lose at least $1.75 billion annually due to inconsistent coordination of water use.

“The development of the region is taking place in conditions of depletion of water resources with a limited amount of investment, which especially negatively affects countries that use water mainly for irrigation purposes,” Khakimov noted.

“More efficient use of the region’s water and energy potential can contribute to deepening cooperation between countries, which sharply weakened in the 2000s. In recent years, cooperation in this direction has noticeably intensified,” Khakimov added.