Drought not only has a negative impact on agriculture, but also on other sectors of the economy, as well as on the quality of life. To tackle this crucial issue, the Drought Prevention Institute of the Organization of Turkic States (Institute, DPI), was established at the initiative of Hungary. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the formation of the DPI was concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) of Hungary and the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) at the 9th OTS Summit held on 10 November 2022 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Institute was mandated to function under the supervision of the Representation Office of the OTS in Hungary.
The mission of the DPI is to identify and implement multilateral development projects in the OTS region, while this cooperation form also represents new opportunities for economic development. By implementing projects, the exposure of the affected countries to the negative socio-economic effects caused by the worsening water shortage due to climate change can be mitigated. According to relevant analysis, building drought resilience comes with an array of social and environmental co-benefits, and the economic returns are between 2 and 10 times bigger than the initial investments. It is important to note that the Institute applies a complex approach to navigate environmental, social and economic challenges and risks arising as a result of drought. The DPI draws on the experience and technological experience of Hungary in the field of adaptation, water management, urban development, sustainable agriculture as well as sustainable energy solutions, all of which play an important role in the development of new practices to be shared with the countries of the OTS as well.
HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency, mandated to host the DPI in mid-2024, is a driving force in adopting and utilizing competitive products, technologies and services applying cutting-edge know-how. HEPA provides market-specific support and services, as well as it explores market development opportunities and promotes Hungarian products and services on a global level. It has an extended network for international business development including amongst others via the Enterprise Europe Network and the Brussels-based Trade Promotion Europe. In the technical and scientific context, DPI’s efforts are also supported by the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), which is one of the largest and most prominent agriculture focused, multi-disciplinary higher education institutions in Europe with its 15,000 students, 15% of which are foreign students from 102 countries, and more than 200 students coming from the Turkic States. MATE is particularly working towards developing effective water management and irrigation systems, as well as dealing with agricultural development programs and engineering.
