The embassy of Uzbekistan in Spain arranged a video-conference discussion to address issues related to water treatment, which included the Spanish showcase of their water purification equipment to the Uzbek and Karakalpak officials, "Dunyo" news agency reports.

There meeting connected the Spanish company AZUD, the Silkway Valencia Uzbek-Spanish trade and investment house in Valencia with the Council of Ministers, official ministries, and departments of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Karakalpakstan's leaders demonstrated interest in the technology presented during the meeting and proposed cooperation initiatives to use them.

It was agreed to establish pilot projects in Uzbekistan to offer clean drinking water to farmland and hard-to-reach towns, and AZUD professionals will visit Karakalpakstan, while a team led by the officials of the Republic of Karakalpakstan would visit Spain. Uzbekistan has also offered government assistance for the deployment of water-saving technology in agriculture.

Water-saving technologies in Uzbekistan

At the beginning of April, the presidential decision "On urgent measures to increase the efficiency of water resources use" was adopted.

According to the decision, from April 1, 2023, the following procedure for state support for the introduction of water-saving technologies in the production of agricultural products will be established:

• Up to 50% of commercial bank loans, but no more than $218,987, is provided on the basis of the guarantee of the State Fund for the Support of Entrepreneurial Activities;
• In order to cover the part of the interest rate exceeding the main rate, but not more than 30% of the main rate, compensation is provided from the Fund for loans of commercial banks allocated in national currency, the interest rate of which does not exceed 1.5 times the main rate of the Central Bank.