Central Asia and South Korea Launch High-Tech Water Partnership
WATER DIPLOMACY, July 19 | ORIENT. South Korea is launching a large-scale multilateral program, "Intelligent Water Management in Central Asia 2026." Organized by the Korea Foundation (KF) and the UNESCO International Centre for Water Security (i-WSSM), the project aims to introduce high-tech digital technologies into the region's water management system.
According to South Korean media, this event is strategic in nature: it is a key stage in the practical preparations for the first-ever Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for September of this year.
Against this backdrop, Turkmenistan demonstrated a unique approach to the agenda. Unlike other regional countries, which sent specialists for standard technical training, Ashgabat formed a separate, five-member, dedicated delegation for cooperation in the water sector, established jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen delegation will participate in a series of high-level intergovernmental meetings and specialized seminars to be held in Seoul, Daejeon, and other Korean technology hubs.
The highlight of the visit will be a multilateral forum on July 23, where Turkmen diplomats and environmentalists, together with the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) and representatives of major IT companies, will discuss the launch of joint investment projects. These projects will focus on the transfer of Korean smart water management technologies, digital monitoring, and rational water use systems.
This diplomatic activity by Seoul and Ashgabat directly aligns with the large-scale climate initiatives approved yesterday at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan. As a reminder, at the Cabinet meeting on July 18, the head of the country's Foreign Ministry presented a reform package, including the creation of the Ashgabat Climate Dialogue, as well as the deployment of the Regional Climate Technology Center and the Center to Combat Desertification.
The integration of Korean intelligent water management systems will provide the practical basis for these new regional institutions, being established under the auspices of the UN in the Turkmen capital.
