Tashkent, Uzbekistan; June 17, 2021– Delegations of the Korea International Cooperation Agency – (led by KOICA Country Director Ms. Sunjin Park) the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection (led by SCEEP Deputy Chairman Mr. Jusipbek Kazbekov) and the Global Green Growth Institute (led by GGGI Country Representative Dr. Aaron Russell), met on June 17, 2021, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to discuss plans for a Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for the Aral Sea project and other avenues for collaboration. The parties discussed a variety of potential areas of collaboration to be developed between the organizations, and development of a project to be funded by the Korean Government entitled: Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to address impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis.

Earlier this month, GGGI and the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA), committing to support Uzbekistan’s transition toward a low-carbon, climate resilient development pathway. To ensure close and effective collaboration, GGGI’s Uzbekistan office is being established in Tashkent, embedded within the SCEEP.