In his opening remarks at the seminar, Alymzhan Bektemirov, Chief Specialist of the Flora Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, noted that Kyrgyzstan acceded to the Cartagena Protocol as early as 2005, but that for many years, insufficient work had been carried out under the protocol. “Today, thanks to financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), technical support from the FAO, and the implementation of the CAREC project in Kyrgyzstan, a solid foundation has been laid for the development of the national biosafety system,” – said he. “In a short period of time, extensive work has been carried out to improve legislation; the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Biosafety” has been adopted; and the development of subordinate regulatory documents has begun. On behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to FAO, CAREC, and all partners for their joint efforts to strengthen biosafety in our country.” Cholpon Alibakieva, FAO Project Manager emphasized that the project is of particular importance not only for Kyrgyzstan but also for the entire Central Asian region. “This project is one of the first FAO/GEF biosafety projects being implemented in Central Asian countries. In a relatively short period of time, our joint efforts have yielded significant results: the legislative framework is being improved, the skills of specialists from government agencies, laboratory staff, and customs officials are being enhanced, and training is being provided to farmers and educators. FAO will continue to support the Kyrgyz Republic on biosafety issues as well as in other strategic areas biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, agricultural development, and natural and water resource management. We are confident that the project’s objectives will be successfully achieved,” – said Cholpon Alibakieva. Kuban Matraimov, Director of the CAREC Branch in the Kyrgyz Republic, noted that over the years of the project’s implementation, the foundation for an effective national biosafety system has been laid, and that this seminar will be an important step in identifying future priorities.  “Over the years of the project’s implementation, significant work has been done to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity. Regulatory and legal documents have been developed, dozens of training events have been organized, and cooperation between government agencies, the scientific community, and the regions has been strengthened. Today, our main task is to listen to the views of all stakeholders and jointly determine what steps need to be taken next. That is precisely why this seminar is structured as an open discussion and a collaborative effort to develop recommendations that will form the basis for the further development of the national biosafety system,” – said Kuban Matraimov.