In his new article, Odilbek Manabov examines Uzbekistan’s virtual water trade balance, evaluating whether the country is a net virtual water importer or exporter. His analysis indicates that Uzbekistan’s exports contain approximately 15.02 trillion liters of virtual water, while imports amount to 12.94 trillion liters, resulting in a positive virtual water trade balance of 2.08 trillion liters. Despite this surplus, the findings highlight a critical challenge for Uzbekistan — a water-stressed nation — where net virtual water exportation poses significant risks to sustainable water management and long-term water security. The author discusses the limitations of data accuracy due to the lack of detailed information, emphasizing the need for better collaboration with government bodies, transparent reporting, and locally-based water footprint calculations.
The paper argues for regular analysis of virtual water trade to support more informed policy decisions aimed at optimizing resource management. It recommends that Uzbekistan prioritize importing water-intensive products and focus domestic production on less water-demanding goods to alleviate pressure on national water resources. This strategy is especially important in the context of Central Asia’s growing population and increasing water demand, which necessitate sustainable water use and a balanced trade system to secure the country’s future water needs.
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