By Abdullahi Lukman
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has warned that water scarcity in Central Asia is intensifying, citing a nearly 30 percent decline in per capita water availability over the past 20 years and noting that around 70 percent of the region’s water resources are transboundary.
Speaking at the First Central Asia–Japan Dialogue Summit, Tokayev said the shrinking of the Caspian Sea and the ecological collapse of the Aral Sea highlight the consequences of poor water management.
He described the Aral Sea disaster as a stark example of the irrational use of water resources.
The president said Kazakhstan values the role of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in addressing regional water challenges and is interested in expanding cooperation, particularly by drawing on Japan’s experience in automating and digitising the water sector.
Tokayev proposed developing a joint water management programme that would include the exchange of advanced water-saving technologies, joint scientific research and cooperation in Earth remote sensing.
He also called for the creation of a UN Water International Organization to coordinate the fragmented mandates of existing global bodies working on water issues.
As part of broader engagement with Japan, Tokayev invited Japanese politicians, experts and business leaders to attend a Regional Environmental Summit scheduled for April in Astana.
During the summit, the president also highlighted wider bilateral cooperation, noting that more than 60 agreements worth over $3.7bn were signed during his recent visit to Japan.
He welcomed Japan’s involvement in developing the Aktau Sea Port and expressed interest in Japanese investment in energy, nuclear waste management and digital mining projects, including the Next-Generation SmartMining Plus initiative.
Tokayev proposed hosting a “Central Asia–Japan” meeting of scientists in Astana and reiterated the need for international attention to the Aral Sea crisis
