DUSHANBE, Tajikistan -

A seminar “Mutually Beneficial Multilateral Water Agreements: opportunities to add value and share benefits in the energy, agriculture and water sectors in Central Asia through increased regional cooperation” organized by United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 19-21October 2009.

The three day event was attended by the officials of the governments of all Central Asian states, representatives of relevant international and regional organizations and international experts. Participants discussed opportunities to foster development and share benefits in the water dependent sectors of energy and agriculture through regional cooperation. Innovative projects that could help identifying concrete opportunities for collaboration among the Central Asian states were presented by prominent international experts.

Particular attention was given to the identification of specific mutual gains for Central Asian countries arising from the cooperative approach in the sectors of the economy that are closely linked to the management of water resources in the region of Central Asia.

Participants of the seminar exchanged views on potential elements that may be considered in developing mutually beneficial regional arrangement for water and related resources management, taking into consideration the interests of all Central Asian states.