The World Bank has approved a $20 million grant to support the Central Asia Water and Energy Cooperation (CAWEC) project, an initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border water resource management and regional cooperation across Central Asia. The funding will be provided to the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).

The project is designed to modernize the region's water management infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation. Alongside the development of new transboundary water infrastructure projects, CAWEC will introduce advanced water accounting systems, upgrade digital information platforms for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, and improve cross-border data sharing between participating countries.

By 2031, IFAS plans to prepare up to six joint water infrastructure projects involving two or more Central Asian countries. These initiatives are expected to attract additional investment for the modernization of irrigation systems, the construction and rehabilitation of water storage facilities, and the deployment of advanced water management technologies.

The program also includes training for up to 100 specialists from regional water management organizations and expanded knowledge sharing across the region. According to the World Bank, approximately 40 million people in Central Asia are expected to benefit directly or indirectly from the project.

The initiative highlights the growing role of digital water management as a critical component of resilient infrastructure development. Integrated information systems, digital monitoring technologies, and cross-border data exchange platforms can improve water-use efficiency, reduce resource losses, and strengthen cooperation among neighboring countries.

As governments accelerate investment in critical infrastructure, projects such as CAWEC are expected to drive demand for industrial automation, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, geographic information systems (GIS), data management platforms, and secure telecommunications networks, creating new opportunities for technology vendors and digital infrastructure providers across Central Asia.