The Regional Water Forum – Brussels 2025, organized by the Drought Prevention Institute (DPI) of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA), took place on March 5 at Maison de la Hongrie in Brussels. This hybrid event, conducted in English, brought together experts and stakeholders to address environmental, social, and economic challenges related to water management and drought prevention in the Turkic region.
Attendees explored sustainable water technology solutions, international funding opportunities, and regional partnerships. The program included keynote speeches, informative sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all designed to foster cooperation and innovation in water management.
Environmental issues such as melting glaciers in Central Asia were also highlighted. Gergõ Péter Kovács from the Drought Prevention Institute (DPI) noted that water availability in the region is declining despite high-altitude water reserves. The Tien Shan and Pamir glaciers are disappearing.
Saving the Aral Sea
Mukataev Serikaly Mukhametkarimovich, Director of the ID IFSA in Kazakhstan, said that, since 2024, the presidency of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea has rotated to the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to him, this will enable the development of a regional cooperation mechanism for the efficient use of water and energy resources in Central Asia based on the link between water, energy, food and the environment. In environmental terms, there is also talk of the creation of a project office for Central Asian countries on climate issues and green energy.
Sara Marjani Zadeh, an expert in land and water resource management, Land and Water Officer at the UN’s FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia and Turkey, explained that the frequency, severity and duration of droughts are increasing across Central Asia due to climate change, posing a major threat to water availability, food production and livelihoods.
By 2050, water resources in many transition economies in Europe and Central Asia are expected to decline by 10-50 percent.
Water scarcity and mismanagement already put more than 64.3 million people at risk of food insecurity in Europe and Central Asia.
The cost of extreme weather events, including floods and droughts, exceeds 14 billion USD per year, further straining economies and food systems.
Reliable drought forecasting and early warning systems are essential, but they require better data collection, sharing and transparency – challenges that have yet to be met in Central Asia.
Interview with OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev
After the meeting, an interview was held with Kubanychbek Omuraliev, the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), formerly known as the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States, an intergovernmental organization established in 2009.
Asked what significant steps has the Organization of Turkic States taken in recent years, Omuraliev noted that OTS has made many important moves to strengthen cooperation among the member states and increase its presence on the world stage. “We have expanded our multilateral cooperation into 35 different areas, ranging from foreign policy and trade to energy, green economy, tourism, digitalization, and even space research,” he said.
Omuraliev noted that the economic cooperation among the OTS Member States is an essential and dynamic aspect of the overall integration and collaboration within the Turkic world. “One of the main mechanisms we have established to enhance cooperation is the Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), which acts as a key platform for strengthening business relations across our member states,” he said.
“Additionally, the Turkic Investment Fund (TIF) is another milestone. Initially launched with a capital of $500 million, the fund has now grown to $600 million with joining of Hungary, supporting mutual investments, fostering innovation, and nurturing entrepreneurship, particularly within SMEs, Omuraliev said, adding that the Fund is planned to be activated this year and to start investing in concrete projects in our region,” Omuraliev said.
Another major development is the Trade Facilitation Committee (TFC), which works to streamline trade processes, remove barriers, and improve the overall business environment in the region, the OTS Secretary General said.
“At the recent summit in Bishkek, we signed the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, which marks a major leap toward digital trade and transformation within our region. While the potential for expanding trade in our region is enormous—given its strategic position at the crossroads of East and West, North and South—there are still hurdles to overcome. According to the final results of 2024, OTS member states rank 12th globally in total GDP, with a combined external trade volume of $1.1 trillion. However, intra-trade between the OTS Member States currently accounts for only around 7 percent of that (total trade turnover of OTS Member States in 2024 was $850 billion), or about $58.17 billion. A few years ago, this was only 3 percent, so we’re seeing encouraging growth. Our goal now is to increase this share to 10 percent as quickly as possible,” Omuraliev said.
The Middle Corridor connecting Asia to Europe
“To achieve this, we are addressing barriers in transportation and logistics, with long-term projects like the Middle Corridor (aka TITR, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route), a key strategic infrastructure initiative connecting Asia to Europe. Passing through our member states, it offers unparalleled advantages. It is 2,000 kilometers shorter than the Northern Corridor and can deliver goods from China to Europe three times faster than sea routes—within just 15 days,” he said.
According to the Organization of Turkic States Secretary General, infrastructure enhancements along the Middle Corridor are expected to triple the volume of cargo transported by 2030, reaching 11 million tons. “A vital component of this corridor is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, which will significantly reduce transit distances and has the potential to transport up to 15 million tons of cargo annually. In recent years, we’ve witnessed substantial growth in cargo transportation along this route. In the first 11 months of 2024, the volume of cargo transported along the Middle Corridor surged by 63 percent, reaching 4.1 million tons,” he said.
At the OTS Regional Water Forum in Brussels today, I had the pleasure of addressing participants alongside esteemed speakers. We discussed regional cooperation, sustainable management, and transboundary solutions. By working together on concrete projects, such as those… pic.twitter.com/qPnQy4AhBz
— Ambassador Kubanychbek OMURALIEV (@KubanOmurali) March 5, 2025
“We have also made significant strides in transport and customs cooperation. Agreements such as the Simplified Customs Corridor, International Combined Freight Transport, and digitalization initiatives like E-Permit, E-CMR, and E-TIR are helping to streamline logistics and enhance trade efficiency. All these efforts are contributing to our broader goal of deepening regional economic integration and improving trade flows among our member states,” Omuraliev said.
Given the strategic location of OTS member countries, the Middle Corridor serves as a vital transit route for EU nations seeking alternative and efficient pathways to Asia. He stressed that the EU can leverage the OTS region’s potential by engaging in collaborative projects that enhance infrastructure, harmonize regulations, and promote seamless trade. “We stand ready to serve as a bridge for transit, facilitating not only the movement of goods but also fostering economic cooperation and mutual prosperity between the East and the West,” he said.
Security cooperation
“Security cooperation is equally vital to our work. We have established key mechanisms for collaboration, including regular consultations on political and security issues, intelligence-sharing, and the development of a Civil Protection Mechanism to respond to natural disasters and emergencies,” he said.
Turning to education and culture, the Turkic States have made remarkable progress too, he said, adding that the Turkic Universities Union, which now includes over 100 universities, facilitates academic cooperation and promotes common educational standards.
“Culturally, the World Nomad Games, launched by Kyrgyzstan in 2012, have become a global celebration of our shared nomadic heritage, attracting participants from across the world. The upcoming 6th edition in Kyrgyzstan in 2026 promises to build on that legacy. We also spotlighted our region’s rich cultural heritage through the “Turkic Silk Road” and ‘Tabarruk Ziyarat projects,” Omuraliev said.
Moreover, the Secretariat developed and signed targeted work plans and MoUs with key international bodies, including UN institutions such as UN-Habitat, WHO, and UNIDO, he said. “Notably, we signed an MoU with UN-Habitat to promote urban development and sustainability, and a Joint Declaration with UNIDO focusing on clean energy and sustainability. Additionally, the 2024-2025 Action Plan with WHO will guide our collaboration on improving emergency preparedness, strengthening health systems, and promoting well-being across our region. The Turkic Week in Geneva in 2024 was a landmark event that showcased our unity and collaboration. We’re already planning similar events in other international capitals, continuing our work to raise our profile and promote our values globally,” he said.
“In short, the OTS has made significant strides in creating a more integrated, prosperous, and secure region, with a clear vision for the future. We’re committed to strengthening ties among our member states and expanding our global influence, fostering a shared future of peace, prosperity, and cultural exchange,” he added.
Asked if there is a strong sense of unity among the Turkic states, Omuraliev quipped: “Yes, definitely. The Turkic States are more than just partners. We are brotherly nations. Our connection goes beyond trade or politics — it’s a bond that’s been growing for centuries. This unity comes from our shared values, language, culture, and history, and common goals for the future. We are united by our past and our hopes for the future, and that makes our cooperation strong and lasting.”
Asked where he sees the Organization of Turkic States in the next five years and how can the OTS enhance its role and influence in global politics, Omuraliev said that over the past 15 years, the Organization of Turkic States has made impressive strides in fostering unity, strengthening cooperation, and promoting sustainable development among its member states and observers.
“As we look to the future, we have set our sights on even more ambitious goals. A key guiding document for our work is the Turkic World Vision – 2040, which outlines our long-term strategic objectives. This vision is centered on several priority areas, including deepening economic integration, accelerating digital transformation, ensuring environmental sustainability, and bolstering security. These goals will shape the OTS’s trajectory in the years to come,” he said.
“Looking specifically at 2025, we are focused on expanding cooperation across various sectors. Under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan, the theme of the year ‘Empowering the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All’, which captures the essence of our ambitions. We are determined to build a more interconnected, resilient, and forward-looking Turkic world,” Omuraliev said.
“First, two high-level summits are planned: an Informal Summit in Hungary and the 12th Summit in Azerbaijan. These summits will be critical in shaping strategic decisions and advancing key initiatives. Besides, they will serve as essential platforms for evaluating the progress of ongoing projects, strengthening cooperation, and setting new priorities for OTS Member States,” Omuraliev said.
“One of our primary goals is to continue to strengthen and expand cooperation in all 35 existing areas of collaboration. In particular, we will continue implementing the decisions made at the Shusha and Bishkek Summits, ensuring that all initiatives progress as planned and continue to deliver tangible benefits to Member States,” he said.
A significant focus will also be placed on advancing the Free Trade Agreement in the field of investments and services, Omuraliev said, adding that this initiative seeks to promote economic growth by removing barriers to investment and trade among Member States, creating a more seamless and integrated economic space.
“To ensure the smooth and effective implementation of our initiatives, the OTS will continue to enhance coordination among Turkic Cooperation Organizations. Regular meetings of the Coordination Committee will be held to ensure that our strategic objectives are carried out efficiently and that we stay on track to meet our goals,” Omuraliev said and added: “In short, in the next five years, the OTS plans to continue strengthening internal cooperation, expanding international partnerships, and actively participating in global initiatives, which will help the organization enhance its role in international affairs.”
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