Hyderabad to host global meet on biosafety

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad will host the 11th conference of the parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the sixth meeting on the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety between October 1 and 19 next year. Hyderabad has been chosen as the venue for the international conference over New Delhi as the latter does not have adequate facilities.Making the announcement here on Monday, Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh said environment  ministers from 194 countries and delegates from international organisations like the World Bank will participate in the event. Ramesh said Hyderabad was selected after considering various factors including logistics like ability to host international conventions, transportation facility and connectivity.The Union minister called on chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to discuss the arrangements for the conference. Jairam Ramesh said that Andhra Pradesh will get three benefits from the conference. “First, it will create major impetus for tourism where we plan to develop Buddhist circuits for attracting foreign tourists. Second, the conference will provide an opportunity for the craftsmen and tribals to exhibit their handicrafts and forest-based products for an international audience. And finally, Hyderabad will get a permanent place in the map of international conventions,” he said. The chief minister has assured to provide all necessary support for the event.