Islamic Development Bank approves $271 million in irrigation projects for Kazakhstan’s Turkestan RegionThe Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has greenlit funding for 24 irrigation projects in Kazakhstan’s Turkestan region, with a total investment of 135.5 billion tenge ($271 million), according to an official statement from the President of Kazakhstan’s press office.Nuralhan Kusherov, governor of the Turkestan region, updated President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the region’s socio-economic progress over the past year and presented plans for upcoming developments.“The Head of State was informed about the allocation of funds from the Islamic Development Bank to restore irrigation infrastructure. Financing has been approved for 24 projects, totaling 135.5 billion tenge,” the statement noted.The projects are designed to secure a reliable water supply for Turkestan city and six nearby districts. Among the initiatives are the construction of the Baidibek Ata reservoir and the development of the Boraldai reservoir project.Previous reports revealed that the IDB plans to channel up to $2 billion into infrastructure projects across Kazakhstan this year, focusing on water resource management and transportation. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has identified 16 priority projects slated for financing in 2025. These include building and upgrading reservoirs, dams, irrigation canals, control regulators, and supporting infrastructure.On March 3, President Tokayev signed a law granting Turkestan city a special status as a spiritual, historical, cultural, and tourist hub, recognizing its importance as a national architectural heritage site. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX