This side event will provide a platform to share the ongoing joint efforts between Mongolia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Korea Institute for Promoting Asia Biosafety Cooperation (KIPABiC) and the United Nations Environment Programme on strengthening the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It will showcase efforts to contribute to cooperation in line with Article 14 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Decision CP-9/4 calling for cooperation at the regional and sub-regional level by implementing joint projects for maximizing synergies and opportunities for sharing of experiences, information and expertise. 

We intend to introduce the GEF multi-country Project (ID 10991) on ‘Promoting the safe application of biotechnology through multi-country cooperation in the implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks in Asia’. The event would provide information to other interested Asian countries to get involved in Project Component I on ‘Multi-country collaboration and cooperation on biosafety issues’ and further discuss how they can participate in the project activities, using their GEF allocation or their own funds. 

The event would also highlight the importance of continued interactive biosafety networking, harmonisation and cooperation to achieve the common goal of ensuring full compliance with the Cartagena Protocol. It would be an opportunity to network and share the lessons learnt under this project during project preparation and implementation to garner interest and support from other countries and observers