Contacts:
In Washington: Vladimir Tsirkunov
Tel: +1-202-458-2326
Email: vtsirkunov@worldbank.org
In Ashgabat: Serdar Jepbarov
Tel: +993-12-350477
Email: sdjepbarov@worldbank.org
Ashgabat, September 30, 2008 – On September 30, 2008, the World Bank team conducted a workshop for the ministries and state agencies of Turkmenistan to discuss main findings and recommendations of the World Bank’s technical assistance to the National Hydrometeorology Committee related to enhancement of the weather and climate service delivery in the country.
Representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Finance of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan, the National Hydrometeorology Committee and different line ministries and state agencies of Turkmenistan attended the half day workshop organized in partnership and with support of the Ministry of Finance of Turkmenistan and the National Hydrometeorology Committee at the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.
The main objectives of the event were (i) to present overall context, goals and preliminary outcomes of the technical assistance work; (ii) to discuss with main beneficiaries the importance of modernization of the Turkmenhydromet, and development of its services and information as an essential element to capture additional economic benefits related to the efficient use of hydrometeorological information, and to improve disaster risk management; (iii) to present an action plan for improving weather and climate service delivery in Turkmenistan and discuss options of implementing its modernization in the view of the Bank's experience in other countries.
Main presentations delivered during the workshop covered areas such as impact of hydrometeorological hazards to economy of Turkmenistan, including climate change aspects, needs assessment of weather dependent sectors, hydromet services modernization issues, assessment of economic benefits of Turkmenhydromet modernization in Turkmenistan as well as World Bank’s experiences in Hydromet modernizations in other countries.
Modernization of the weather forecast system of the National Hydrometeorology Committee on par with international standards will help the country to effectively mitigate economic costs from adverse weather conditions and changing climate through improved weather forecasts and traditional public service delivery by substantially contributing to the economic development of the country.
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Turkmenistan signed the Articles of Agreement of the World Bank Group on September 22, 1992. The first Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Turkmenistan was presented to the World Bank’s Board on May 27, 1997. In 1996, the Bank established a Liaison Office in Ashgabat to enhance communications with the government and to provide operational support. Currently, the World Bank Group is developing an Interim Strategy Note for Turkmenistan for the period of 2008-2010. The Interim Strategy will include activities that to support the efforts of the Government in the reform process to improve the living standards of Turkmenistan population.
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