Excellencies, 
Honourable Ministers, 
Distinguished partners, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Third Meeting of the Coordination Council of Partners for the Development of the Water Sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

UNDP is honoured to co-chair this important platform together with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. Over the past two years, this Council has become a strong example of what can be achieved when national leadership is combined with international partnerships.

When we launched this Council, we shared an ambitious objective: to create a platform that would bring together government, development partners, international financial institutions, academia and the private sector around one common vision for Kazakhstan's water future.

Today, we can confidently say that this vision is translating into tangible results. Under the leadership of the Minister and through the joint efforts of all partners, the Coordination Council has evolved from a dialogue platform into a mechanism for coordinated action.

Over the past two years, this Coordination Council has helped bring together expertise, partnerships and resources in support of Kazakhstan's water sector. By strengthening coordination and creating opportunities for collaboration, it has mobilized financing, promoted knowledge exchange, expanded professional training, introduced innovative solutions, and strengthened cooperation across institutions and sectors. Together, we are building not only projects, but also the institutions, skills and partnerships needed for long-term water security.

These collective efforts are supporting the modernization of water management, strengthening institutions, improving hydrological forecasting, advancing digital solutions and introducing innovative approaches that help Kazakhstan use its water resources more efficiently and build resilience to climate change.

Indeed, these achievements demonstrate an important lesson: water conservation is not only about protecting a natural resource. It is about strengthening food security, supporting economic growth, improving public services and creating opportunities for future generations.

Today's agenda reflects this comprehensive vision of water conservation. Alongside discussions on digitalization, satellite monitoring and modern infrastructure, we will also explore how education, public awareness, youth engagement and partnerships with business can help build a lasting culture of responsible water use. Because achieving water security is not only about technology and infrastructure – it is also about people, knowledge and shared responsibility. 

No single institution can address today's water challenges alone. They require coordination, trust and long-term partnerships. This is precisely why this Coordination Council matters.

As co-chair, UNDP remains fully committed to supporting the Ministry in bringing partners together, mobilizing expertise and resources, and translating shared commitments into tangible results.

I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation for its leadership, and to all development partners for their continued commitment to Kazakhstan's water agenda.

Let me conclude with one simple thought.

Every litre of water we save today is an investment in tomorrow's prosperity.

Together, let us continue turning partnership into action, innovation into impact, and our shared commitment into lasting change for the people of Kazakhstan.
Thank you. Rakhmet.