Regional workshop and training on the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative for Europe and Central Asia under the FAO–China South-South Cooperation Programme

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Uzbekistan, will organize the regional workshop and training on the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative for Europe and Central Asia under the FAO–China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme from 18 to 20 May 2026 in Namangan, Uzbekistan. 

The workshop is designed to build the capacity of stakeholders on sustainable development of value chains of special agricultural products, using Uzbekistan’s sweet cherry sector as a demonstration case. Participants will share best practices and lessons learned from across the region and review the implementation of the OCOP initiative at the regional and national levels.  

Launched in 2021, the OCOP initiative supports countries in developing sustainable value chains for special agricultural products. To date, more than 90 FAO Members have joined the initiative, promoting 55 products. In Europe and Central Asia, eleven countries are participating. Under the global project, supported by FAO–China SSC Programme, 15 countries have been selected as demonstration countries globally, including Uzbekistan representing the Central Asia region.   
 
The workshop will bring together government representatives, private sector actors, research institutions, and technical experts from China and FAO offices to share experiences, build capacity and strengthen collaboration.    
   
The programme includes technical sessions on sustainable production of sweet cherry systems, application of Geographical Indicators for Environment and Sustainability (GIES), digital tools and market development, along with a field visit to cherry orchards and processing facilities in the Namangan province.    

This event marks an important step in demonstrating how OCOP can drive more efficient, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems through innovation, partnerships and South-South cooperation.  

Target Participants   

• Government officials   
• Researchers and technical experts   
• Private sector representatives and value chain actors  
• FAO staff from headquarters, regional and country offices  

Participating countries   

• Albania  
• Armenia  
• Azerbaijan  
• Georgia  
• Kazakhstan  
• Kyrgyzstan  
• The Republic of Moldova  
• Serbia  
• Tajikistan  
• Türkiye 
• Uzbekistan 

For more information, please contact [email protected]