Knowledge Sharing Visit to Uzbekistan
From July 12 to 16, 2026, a delegation of government officials, representatives of educational and research institutions, and partner organizations from Tajikistan visited Uzbekistan to learn about the country's experience in groundwater management
The mission was organized under the Groundwater Management Project in Sughd, Tajikistan and provided a valuable opportunity for professional exchange and strengthened cooperation between the two neighboring countries, which share a common Soviet-era groundwater management heritage.
Over the course of the mission, delegates met with representatives from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology and Ministry of Water Resources, as well as hydrogeological agencies, research institutes and universities. Discussions focused on ongoing reforms in the groundwater sector, the transition to digital data systems, groundwater resource monitoring practices, and efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework. Several Uzbek initiatives stood out as particularly relevant to Tajikistan, including a digital permitting system for groundwater use, the compulsory installation of abstraction water meters, a dedicated groundwater information management system, and a nationwide well inventory.
One of significant outcomes of the visit is an agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HELVETAS and Uzbekistan's Department of Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, and Geoecology, laying the ground for long-term collaboration between the two institutions.
