A side event on "Launching the Biosafety Initiative in Uzbekistan: Promoting the Cartagena Protocol" was held
2026-06-02 12:00:00 / News
On June 2, a side event titled "Launching the Biosafety Initiative in Uzbekistan: Promoting the Cartagena Protocol" took place as part of the international exhibition "Eco Expo Central Asia 2026." The event was dedicated to the official launch of the project "Implementing a National Biosafety System in Uzbekistan in Accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety," funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The event served as a high-level dialogue platform to present the project's objectives and expected outcomes, aimed at strengthening Uzbekistan's national biosafety system in line with international environmental commitments, particularly the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Welcoming remarks were delivered to participants by Aziz Abduhakimov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Jeffrey Griffin, Head of the Global Environment Facility and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) division; and Asad Naqvi, Director of the Implementation Support Group of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat. Oliver Avramoski, IUCN Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, served as moderator.
During the event, it was emphasized that the project will contribute to improving national policy and the regulatory framework in the field of biosafety, strengthening inter-agency cooperation, developing technical and laboratory capacity, as well as further improving systems for risk assessment, monitoring, and management related to living modified organisms.
Participants noted the importance of effectively implementing international obligations in the areas of biosafety, biodiversity conservation, and environmental security, as well as the need to further strengthen national oversight and rapid response mechanisms in this direction.
As part of the side event, a signing ceremony for a Statement of Intent aimed at developing cooperation and supporting project implementation was also held.
Special attention was paid to the role of GEF mechanisms and international cooperation in helping countries align global environmental commitments with concrete national actions and practical measures.
This side event served as an important platform for strengthening international cooperation, advancing biosafety principles, and further developing Uzbekistan's institutional capacity in the fields of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.