DUSHANBE, May 24, Asia-Plus  -- Water-related disasters may lead to a 70 percent loss of gross domestic product (GDP) of Tajikistan, Mr. Hans Wize, international consultant of the working group for preparation of international  conference to discuss water-related disaster risk reduction, remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe on May 23.   

Speaking to reporters, Asror Odinayev, the deputy head of the working group, said that Dushanbe will host the conference on June 27-28 and some 300 foreign guests and Tajik experts and researchers are expected to attend the conference.  

To date, 140 international and regional organizations as well as officials of 28 countries have confirmed their readiness to participate at the conference, Odinayev said.  

According to him, representatives of Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tanzania and number of other countries will took part the conference.

Asked about expenses on holding of the conference, he said that the Government of Tajikistan, UNDP, UN Department of Economic and Social Development and the OSCE will sponsor the conference.