The event was organized by the governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Norway and Japan together with the UN Human Security Unit and a number of organizations. It was attended by about 300 representatives of special agencies of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, leading companies and the United States banking and financial institutions, international environmental associations.

 

On the eve of the high-level meeting, representatives of the delegation of Uzbekistan conveyed to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres the greetings of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and gratitude of the country’s leadership for supporting the efforts on creating the Trust Fund.

 

António Guterres asked to convey to the President of Uzbekistan his best wishes and readiness for further close cooperation to implement the agreements reached during the summit in September 2017, in New York.

 

António Guterres addressed the opening ceremony of the event and noted that the creation of the Trust Fund will open a new chapter in the history of the suffering region.

 

During his visit to the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan in June 2017, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the socio-environmental disaster as one of “the biggest ecological catastrophes of our time”.

 

The main goal and objectives of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund is to draw the attention of the world community to problems of the Aral Sea region, mobilize technical and financial resources for development of the region.

 

The Chairman of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan M.Yerniyazov also attended the forum. He provided information on comprehensive measures implemented by the state for improving the environmental situation in the Aral Sea region, mitigating the harmful effects on human health. He informed about the creation, at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, of the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea region, its main goals and objectives.

 

At the event it was noted that the initiative on establishment of the Trust Fund was forwarded by Uzbekistan in 2015. At the event, representatives of Japan, Norway, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Algeria, as well as a number of non-governmental organizations expressed their readiness to support the activities of the fund. At the forum it was noted that the government of Uzbekistan will annually allocate $2 million for the Trust Fund. Members of the Norway delegation provided information on the decision of the country’s government to allocate $1.2 million for the Trust Fund.