On 25 June 2013,ISTC Executive Director Leo Owsiacki, together with the EU Head of Delegation to Tajikistan, Ambassador Eduard Auer and the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, Professor Mamadsho Ilolov formally opened the newly created Bio-safety and Bio-security Training Centre in Dushanbe at the Institute of Botany of the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences. Short presentations by these individuals and visiting dignitaries from the EU and the USA were followed by the unveiling of a sign identifying the training centre, a ribbon cutting at the entrance to the newly renovated and equipped facility, and a tour through the re-furbished premises. Approximately 50 people attended the opening ceremonies.

The Centre is the first for bio-safety and bio-security training in the country and is one of the main outcomes of ISTC project T-1998 “Creation of Regional Biosafety Training Centre in Dushanbe for Capacity Building for Tajikistan and Afghanistan Professionals). The funds, € 900,000 (approximately $1,176,351 USD) were provided by the European Union. The project was started in September 2012 and will continue to August 2014. During this period, training courses will be provided at the Centre to more than 130 bio-experts from Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

For more information ----> http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/tajikistan/documents/press_corner/2013/biosafety_2013_en.pdf

The EU Head of Delegation to Tajikistan, Ambassador Eduard Auer, the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, Professor Mamadsho Ilolov and ISTC Executive Director, Leo Owsiacki are opening the newly created Training Centre