On 15 March 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Green Growth and Climate Change Cooperation Relevant to the Aral Sea Basin was signed between the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Uzbekistan, implementer of the “Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to address impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis (GRIP Aral Sea)” co-financed by Korea International Cooperation, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the implementer of the “Regional Project on Ecologically Oriented Development of the Aral Sea Region” on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The MoU provides a general framework for cooperation and facilitates collaboration between GGGI and GIZ in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Climate Agreement, and UNGA Resolution A/75/L.83. Specifically, the MOU states that the two organizations will share information and analytical approaches, collaborate to develop capacity building materials , to identify and develop strategic value chain for mobilizing green investments, to design of, and disseminate information through GGGI’s Business Development Platform.
Mr. Torsten Brezina, Cluster Coordinator for GIZ Regional Projects in Central Asia, stated that he strongly supports the cooperation between GGGI and GIZ in the Aral Sea Region, because promoting a climate sensitive and ecologically friendly economic development for the people in the region is a challenge which cannot be tackled alone. Joining forces and creating synergies can only lead to better and more impactful results. He also congratulated GGGI for opening its first Country Office in Central Asia, and the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection (SCEEP) for hosting GGGI in their office premises in Tashkent, and to SCEEP for being a strong and reliable partner for German development cooperation. 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of successful cooperation between the German and the Uzbek Government and the ongoing positive developments in the country under the leadership of the President are highly appreciated and acknowledged. The cooperation in the sphere of climate change and environmental protection between GIZ and SCEEP should be further strengthened. He concluded his remarks by wishing GGGI a successful project implementation and offered his support wherever needed.
Dr. Aaron Russell, GGGI Country Representative in Uzbekistan, congratulated GIZ for its longstanding partnership with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and expressed appreciation to SCEEP for its leadership that has made possible the establishment of the GGGI Country Office in Uzbekistan, the first GGGI Office in Central Asia, and the implementation of GRIP Aral Sea project. He stated that the agreement between GGGI and GIZ symbolizes a milestone in GGGI’s strategic engagement with key development partners in Uzbekistan. The key areas for collaborations between GGGI and GIZ will include the promotion of sustainable value chains for livelihoods and green job creation in the Aral Sea region, and the development of a Business Development Platform to create an enabling framework for to promote green entrepreneurship and micro-, small-, and medium sized enterprises. Finally, in line with GGGI’s Central Asia strategy, he concluded that he looks forward to working together with GIZ to scale up these climate-smart agriculture and green investment efforts across the greater Aral Sea region and Central Asia.
Mr. Jahongir Talipov, Head of Department of International Relations and Projects, SCEEP, welcomed the new partnership between SCEEP’s two trusted partners – GGGI and GIZ – and appreciated the two organizations’ joint efforts to support the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan in effectively addressing the Aral Sea ecological crisis and making a transition to inclusive, climate-resilient development through collaboration. He stated that this new partnership and SCEEP’s hosting of the GGGI Country Office are positive indications of the government’s efforts to create a favorable environment for cooperation. He concluded his remarks that SCEEP is ready to work with GGGI and GIZ to explore opportunities for new initiatives in the country and the Central Asia region to successfully address climate change related risks and threats to the environmental ecosystem.
Dr. Aaron Russell, GGGI Uzbekistan Country Representative (left), and Mr. Paul Schumacher, Project Manager, Regional Project on Ecologically Oriented Development of the Aral Sea Region, GIZ Uzbekistan (right).
Mr. Torsten Brezina, Cluster Coordinator for GIZ Regional Projects in Central Asia, delivering remarks.
