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international

and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan “it is important to note that
to the Swiss Confederation.
tajikistan ranks 8th in terms of
Before my arrival in Geneva, I served as the
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, focusing hydroelectric resources...”
on Economic and Consular Affairs. I also held
the position of First Deputy Chairman of the
State Committee on Investments and State
Property Management, where I worked on
attracting foreign investments and managing resources, and our nation is at the forefront
public investment projects with international of championing the green economy, with a
financial institutions. I also led the Secretariat remarkable 98% of our electricity generated by
of the Consultative Council on Improvement hydropower plants.
of Investment Climate under the President
of Tajikistan, facilitating dialogue between Indeed, 60% of the water resources of Central
the public and private sectors to advocate for Asia are located in Tajikistan. The total length of
economic reforms. the rivers is more than 30 thousand kilometres.
There are more than 1300 lakes with a total
With over 20 years of experience in public area of 705 square kilometres. The glaciers are
sector and public finance reform projects, I have a source of clean and fresh water, and these
built strong partnerships with governments, resources play a crucial role in ensuring the
international organizations, and the private sustainable development of Tajikistan and the
sector. I represented several countries on the region. The largest glacier outside the polar
Board of Directors of the Asian Development region is Vanjyakh (formerly Fedchenko), which
Bank Headquarters in Manila, Philippines, is about 70 square kilometres long and covers an
and was the first Director of the Public-Private area of about 900 square kilometres.
Partnership Center of Tajikistan.
I hold an MBA from the Ateneo Graduate School The impact on the planet’s water resources is one
of Business in Manila, Philippines, and diplomas of the most important aspects of global climate
in Economics and Customs Affairs from Tajik change. It is a matter of concern that drinking
National University and Tajik Tax and Law water resources and their quality are getting
University, respectively. scarce on a daily basis. Addressing such issues is
deemed to be vital in different parts of the world,
Your country has a strategic and geographic where water is the basis for socio-economic
position in the heart of the Silk Road. Your development.
abundant water resources make you a blue jewel,
as Tajikistan is sometimes called. Could you tell My country is no exception when it comes to
us a little more about it? climate change and its negative impacts on the
Needless to say, Tajikistan is located at the western country, including exposure to extreme events.
tip of the Himalayas in the heart of Central Asia Water resources are mainly affected by natural
and lies on the important historical route of the disasters such as floods, and mudflows, which
Silk Road connecting the East and the West. Its further impact agriculture and therefore the
mountains and high peaks are a defining symbol entire water sector.
of the country’s uniqueness in the region, which
is rich in freshwater resources in its rivers, lakes, Given the fact that water is essential for the survival
and glaciers. These water resources not only and productivity of all life and ecosystems almost
provide sustenance for agriculture and industry, all spheres of human activity are closely connected
but also offer opportunities for hydropower to it. Therefore, water is a fundamental element
generation, contributing to Tajikistan’s energy that helps the world and regions to restore their
production and overall sustainable economic capacities to cope with the current climate change
development. It is important to note that and its consequences, and to be more resilient in
Tajikistan ranks 8 in terms of hydroelectric the face of a future threats.
th

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