Uzbekistan launches biosafety initiative under Cartagena Protocol implementation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 2 June, as part of Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, a side event titled “Launch of the Biosafety Initiative in Uzbekistan: Advancing the Cartagena Protocol” was held to mark the official start of a new national project on biosafety system development.

The project, “Implementation of a National Biosafety System in Uzbekistan in line with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,” is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The event served as an international platform to present the goals, objectives, and expected outcomes of the initiative, which aims to strengthen Uzbekistan’s national biosafety system and ensure compliance with international environmental obligations related to biodiversity conservation.

Opening remarks were delivered by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on environmental issues and Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, alongside representatives of international organisations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the GEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Speakers highlighted that the project will improve national biosafety policy and legislation, strengthen inter-agency coordination, enhance technical and laboratory capacity, and develop systems for risk assessment, monitoring, and management of living modified organisms.

Participants stressed the importance of effective implementation of international biosafety commitments, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation, as well as continued development of national control and response mechanisms.

A statement of intent was signed during the event, aimed at expanding cooperation and supporting project implementation. Particular attention was given to the role of international partnerships and GEF mechanisms in supporting countries through practical national programmes and implementation measures.

The event was described as an important step in strengthening international cooperation in biosafety and enhancing Uzbekistan’s institutional capacity in environmental governance.

In addition, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Agriculture signed a Concept Note for an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan for the Lower Amu Darya Basin.

The document aims to improve water resource management, enhance water use efficiency, strengthen environmental sustainability, and promote intersectoral cooperation in the context of increasing climate pressures in the Aral Sea region.