UAE Delegation Advocates For Global Water Sustainability In Tajikistan Conference

On behalf of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, led a distinguished delegation to the Republic of Tajikistan. The delegation participated in the third international conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action on ‘Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028’.

The conference took place from 10th to 13th June 2024 as part of the "Dushanbe Water Process", under the patronage of Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan. Qohir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister of Tajikistan, welcomed Dr. Al Dahak and her accompanying delegation, in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Ariqi, UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan and UAE Non-Resident Ambassador to Tajikistan.

At the outset, Al Dahak conveyed greetings from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. She extended the UAE Leadership’s wishes for continued progress and prosperity to the leadership of the Republic of Tajikistan and its people.

His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Tajikistan conveyed his greetings to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. He also wished further development and progress for the UAE government and its people.

The two sides explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors. These included developing water resources, renewable energy, environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, transportation, and logistics services.

Speaking at the conference, Al Dahak commended global initiatives aimed at advancing water sustainability. She emphasised the UAE's commitment to identifying effective solutions for addressing water scarcity and integrating them into social, economic, and environmental development agendas.

Commenting on the UAE’s efforts to strengthen water security, Al Dahak said, "The UAE has shown deep commitment to water conservation. This year, on 29th February, His Highness the President of the UAE launched the ‘Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative’ to combat the global challenge of water scarcity."

The initiative aims to enhance awareness about the water crisis at a global level. It also aims to develop innovative technological solutions and test their effectiveness in addressing the worsening water challenge around the world.

Future Conferences and Meetings

Al Dahak also announced that the UAE will host the United Nations Water Conference for 2026 in cooperation with Senegal. On the sidelines of the conference in Tajikistan, she held a meeting with Bahadur Sher Alizadeh, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection of Tajikistan.

The discussions centred on exploring avenues for strengthening cooperation and sharing expertise in environmental conservation, water treatment technologies, and renewable energy initiatives. She also met with Mickey van Ginken, Special Envoy for Water for The Netherlands.

Dr. Al Dahak lauded The Netherlands' efforts in hosting the UN Water Conference in 2023 in collaboration with Tajikistan. She emphasised the UAE's aspiration to build on these outcomes to enhance international cooperation in achieving sustainable development goals.

Delegation Composition

The UAE delegation included representatives from government entities and the private sector. These included members from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, AD Ports Group, and Masdar.

With inputs from WAM