Uzbekistan has prepared US$ 60 million worth of 19 projects as part of the Multi-partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region, part of which to be used for planting a forest on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea, the Deputy PM/Chairman of the Investments Committee Sukhrob Holmuradov said on Thursday.
He underscored that it was crucial to find innovative approaches to address the Aral Sea problem. He also sought for support from the UN bodies to help attract Animal Planet, National Geographic, Wild BBC channels to shoot documentaries about the Aral Sea disaster.
The fund is said to be planning to attract US$ 123.2 million over five years to create jobs and improve social and natural conditions in the Aral Sea region, where over 2 million people live.
The Government of Uzbekistan transferred the first tranche of US$ 6.5 million to the Fund, with finance deals reached with the governments of Norway, Japan, South Korea, Germany and Switzerland.
The Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region was set up at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in November 2018 under the auspices of the UN.
