The official opening ceremony of the 2nd Conference of the Dushanbe Water Decade

On June 7, 2022, the 2nd High-level Conference on the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028 officially started. The conference was opened by the Founder of Peace and National Unity – the Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon.

In his speech, the President stressed the importance of water resources for achieving sustainable development, and the ongoing impact of various challenges on this vital resource. In this context, the President outlined the global situation and development trends in the field of water resources, as well as Tajikistan’s efforts to promote water issues on the regional and global agenda.

The Conference is organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations and other partners. It serves as the main stage in the preparation for the UN Water Conference in 2023.

First Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Muhammad, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Permanent Representative of Botswana to the UN Kolen Vixen Kelapile, UN Under-Secretary-General for Water Resources 2023 and Co-Chair of the Second Dushanbe Conference Liu Zhenming, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan also spoke at the opening ceremony Roman Sklyar, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Mukhammadguli Mukhammadov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shukhrat Ganiev, EU Commissioner for the Environment Sinkevicius Virginius, Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank Shiksin Chen, Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Mark Bowman, World Bank Director for Global Water Resources Jennifer Sarah, Australian athlete Mina Guli and a representative of the youth citizen of Chad Dionnon Bienvinu.

Currently, the conference hosts panel sessions covering actions and partnerships in the field of water resources at the local, national, regional and global levels; strengthening the relationship between water and health to respond to the challenges of the post-covid world; the effectiveness and value of water, safe conditions for water supply, sanitation and hygiene, as well as transboundary water cooperation.