The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced plans to participate in the delegation* for the ‘16th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum’ from November 1 to 3 to lay the foundation for water industry exports in Turkmenistan.

* Comprising over 80 members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Korea Forest Service, K-water, Korea National Railway, etc.

On November 1, the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with K-water and the Korea Water Partnership, will hold a session to discuss cooperation strategies with Central Asian countries while sharing South Korea's water management policies and technologies with forum participants focusing on climate change and environmental protection.

The Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum is a regular multilateral organization established in 2007 to build comprehensive cooperation relationships with the five Central Asian countries* in various fields such as economy, culture, and environment. This year’s forum covers six main topics, including transportation/logistics, healthcare/pharmaceuticals, climate change/environmental protection, information and communication technology, education/science, and tourism. 

* Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

Furthermore, on November 2, the Ministry of Environment will introduce South Korea's advanced water technologies and the current state of the water industry at the 5th Korea-Turkmenistan Business Council meeting, which will be held at the Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They will also explore practical cooperation methods with local government agencies such as the Turkmenistan Water Management Committee to establish a foundation for water industry exports, including integrated water management and desalination. 

Kim Gu-beom, Director-General of Water Resources Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Turkmenistan is a country with scarce water resources due to its continental desert climate." He added, "On this occasion, we aim to establish a foundation for bilateral cooperation between South Korea and Turkmenistan for efficient water resource conservation and management, as well as to pave the way for the entry of our companies into the market."

Contact: Joh Hee-mok, Deputy Director

Water Industry and International Cooperation Division / +82-(0)44-201-7633