OREANDA-NEWS. April 05, 2010. The Drop of Water – Grain of Gold International Water Forum is opened in Ashgabat. This is a landmark event in identifying the further ways to develop water industry in Turkmenistan as well as for expansion of international cooperation to address global problems of water supply.

The three-day forum will be an opportunity to identify new fields of mutually beneficial cooperation as well as to demonstrate modern Turkmenistan’s achievements to the world community. The selfless labour of Turkmen mirabs and the centuries-old priceless experience in irrigated cropping enable to reap rich harvests and maintain the life of blooming oases in the deserts in our arid region.

Nowadays, this experience has been considerably enriched and state-of-the-art equipment and advanced irrigation technologies and scientific applications that allow implementing large-scale projects are supplied to hydraulic engineers on a regular basis. These grandiose projects include the construction of the Turkmen Lake and system of inlet manifolds across one of the largest deserts in the world – the Karakum Desert which has no analogues in the world. The main project aim is to collect and recycle drainage water from the oases throughout the country thus transforming wastewater in the valuable water resources.

Turkmenistan consistently stands for mutually beneficial cooperation on the water issues and efficient water use in the interests of all countries of the region. Our country sets an example of efficient use of water that is the most cherished wealth for the Turkmen people from time immemorial. The Turkmen leader’s constructive initiatives to intensify cooperation in the strategic water sector and joint activity to preserve water resources are welcomed by the international community.

The international forums conducted in Turkmenistan on a regular basis provide leading scientists and experts from all over world with an opportunity to exchange experiences testifying to the significant importance attached in our country to efficient use of water resources. Thus, the Avaza national tourism zone on the Caspian seashore hosted the International Scientific Conference on the Role of the Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake in Improving the Environmental Situation in the region last week. The representative forum brought together the leading scientists and experts from different countries of the world, water industry and agricultural specialists who could receive the firsthand information and evaluate the critical role of this huge water reservoir in ensuring environmental security in the region and efficiently managing water resources in the arid region. The discussions of these issues will be continued during the water forum opened in Ashgabat.

The International Exhibition on the World Practice and Advanced Technologies for Efficient Water Management organized by the Ministry of Water Industry and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan has a special place in the forum programme.

It is symbolic that the forum is taking place during the days of the celebrations of the national holiday A Drop of Water – A Grain of Gold when the country honours renowned Turkmen mirabs, reclamation experts and hydraulic engineers who every day fulfill the important tasks – to irrigate fields efficiently using every drop of water and increase fertility of land. Our specialists stand ready to share their priceless experience with foreign colleagues and adopt the best international water management practice.