About $800 million in investments is needed to modernize the irrigation networks of Kyrgyzstan, and $400 million — to finally provide the remaining villages with clean drinking water. The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov announced at Bishkek Water Forum.
«The issue of water management is very relevant, the World Bank and the government are at the head, together we can unite other financial institutions in this direction,» he said.
According to World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani, making sure that everyone has access to water is their key mission.
«Water is the main condition for economic growth and development. The economy is a sponge ready to absorb water. By 2050, annual economic growth rates in the countries of Central Asia may fall by 6 percent of GDP due to water shortage,» Bassani said.
Director for the World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice Saroj Kumar Jha stressed that Central Asia is losing water in its net sense, both groundwater and precipitation.
«Kyrgyzstan is a water tower for the region, but we are wasting a lot of water. We must invest in better water management. It is very important to unite the efforts of development partners so that in two or three years everyone has access to water supply and disposal services,» he added.
It should be noted that the event was organized by the Cabinet of Ministers and the World Bank to stimulate joint actions and transform the water sector in Kyrgyzstan.
