Bishkek Water Forum

8:00 – 8:45

Registration and Coffee

Press wall: Statements to the press and video interviews by select members of the Cabinet of Ministers and World Bank Group officials

9:00 – 9:35

Forum Opening and Introductory Remarks

Moderator: Mr. Naveed Hassan Naqvi, World Bank Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic

Mr. Akylbek Zhaparov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic

Ms. Antonella Bassani, World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia

Mr. Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Global Director for Water

9:40 – 10:25

Session 1: Government Priorities and Action Plan for Advancing Water Sector Reforms

Moderator: Mr. Bakyt Sydykov, Head of Sector for Interaction with Development Partners, Monitoring of Donor and Grant Assistance, Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

Presentation 1.1: National Water Strategy 2040 and water reform pathways in the Kyrgyz Republic (15 min)

Mr. Melis Turgunbaev, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic

Presentation 1.2: Irrigation and Drainage Sector Policy and Investment Framework (15 min)

Mr. Murat Ramatov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic

Presentation 1.3: Achieving Universal Access to Safely Managed Water Supply Services in the Kyrgyz Republic (15 min)

Mr. Myrzabek Zhyparkulov, Director of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction, Housing and Communal Services under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic

10:30 – 11:20

Panel Discussion: Reforms and Investments for Sustainable Water Use: Achieving SDGs

Moderator: Mr. Winston Yu, World Bank Water Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia

Panelists:

Mr. Almaz Isanov, Head of Political and Economic Studies Department, Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

Mr. Melis Turgunbaev, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic

Mr. Ruslan Tatikov, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic

Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia

Mr. Olivier Bangerter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic

11:20 – 11:40

Coffee break

11:50 – 12:50

Session 2: Innovations and Sustainability in Water Services

Moderator: Mr. Murat Ramatov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic

Presentation 2.1: Irrigation Sector Reforms and Ways Forward (15 min)

Mr. Almazbek Sokeev, Director of the Water Resource Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic

Presentation 2.2: Unlocking the Potential of Earth Observation for Water and Agriculture Management: Applications and Innovations in Information Systems (15 min)

Mr. Poolad Karimi, World Bank Senior Irrigation Specialist

Presentation 2.3: Priority Directions for the Development of the Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (15 min)

Mr. Ryskulbek Osmonaliev, Director of the Department for Development of Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal under the State Agency for Architecture, Construction, Housing and Communal Services under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic

Presentation 2.4: Service Delivery Financing and Tariff Setting towards Sustainability (15 min)

Mr. Khairy Al-Jamal, World Bank Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist

12:55 – 13:15

Wrap up and Closing

Mr. Sameh Wahba, World Bank Regional Director for Sustainable Development in Europe and Central Asia

Mr. Almaz Isanov, Head of Political and Economic Studies Department, Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

13:15 – 14:15

Lunch