Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 15 January 2024 the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Uzbekistan and the Agency of plant protection and quarantine (APPQ) of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a wrap up meeting within the first visit of Korean experts’ group (Agro-food New Marketing Institute, South Korea), which initiated the project for Strengthening Capacity Building of the Phytosanitary Service and Improvement of Plant Quarantine Border Checkpoints in the Republic of Uzbekistan (2023 ~ 2027 / US$6.74 mln).

During 4 – 15 January 2024 the team of Korean experts carried out various activities within the project, including collecting data and identifying needs of the partner agency, establishing cooperation system between APPQ and relevant stakeholder institutions, organizing the Project Steering Committee and Project Implementation Units.

In the course of the visit, the experts jointly with the APPQ and its central and regional laboratories, the Research Institute for Quarantine and Plant Protection, as well as with interstate plant quarantine border checkpoints, confirmed the list and the specifications of equipment for procurement.

It is expected that the project will promote import and export of agricultural products by strengthening plant quarantine capabilities, improve efficiency of plant quarantine service and reduce risks of plant pests. Moreover, the project activities encompass capacity building of plant quarantine officials through invitational trainings in Korea and locally, development of training manuals and provision of necessary equipment, thus strengthening plant quarantine capacity of Uzbekistan.