BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting Kyrgyzstan's efforts to upgrade irrigation system in the southern part of the country, Trend reports referring to the EBRD.
"A €17.8-million investment will finance construction work and upgrades to the system used to transport water to irrigated fields in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan, enabling to facilitate essential upgrades to water intakes, main canals and the distribution network," the EBRD said.
The initiative will also aid in the creation of jobs in the southern region of Kyrgyzstan as part of the Green Economy Transition (GET) strategy, under which the Bank seeks to increase its climate and environmental funding to more than 50 percent of EBRD annual investment by 2025.
"By financing this project we are promoting more efficient water use, contemporary cultivation practices and sustainable farming. The project will improve food security in Central Asia," the EBRD Regional Head Ayten Rustamova said.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has so far invested €855 million through 208 projects in Kyrgyzstan, mainly focusing on supporting private entrepreneurship.