IMF Urges Uzbekistan to Establish Market-Based Water Pricing
International Monetary Fund Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, has suggested that Uzbekistan should set a market price for water in order to encourage consumers to value the resource. During a recent visit to the country, Georgieva also highlighted the need for cooperation in water management between Central Asian nations. She praised joint water projects involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and noted that more progress needs to be made in relation to rainwater harvesting. Georgieva stated that creating a water market is necessary, but must be implemented carefully in order to consider social consequences. Uzbekistan is currently making progress in terms of social protection, and the same approach could be applied to water.
