Turkmenistan achieves new historic success in UNESCO’s «Memory of the world» programme

An important event for Turkmenistan has been announced — the country’s documentary heritage has been included for the first time in the Asia-Pacific Regional Register of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. From November 2 to 6, 2026, the 11th General Meeting and international seminar of the UNESCO Memory of the World Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) is being held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Within the framework of the event, the regional register was expanded with 21 unique examples of documentary heritage.

Among them is the documentary heritage nomination submitted by Turkmenistan entitled “Archival Sources on the Life and Work of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham.” The nomination received high appreciation from the jury and was included in the prestigious UNESCO regional register.

The newly added heritage item has become the first documentary heritage of Turkmenistan included in the Asia-Pacific Regional Register of the Memory of the World Programme. This achievement represents another recognition at the international level of the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people.

The 11th General Meeting and international seminar of MOWCAP are organized by the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) in cooperation with the National Commissions for UNESCO of the Republic of Korea and Indonesia, as well as the Korea Heritage Service.

The main theme of the seminar is “The World of Water: Sea Nomads, Documentary Heritage and Memory of the World.” The event focuses on the culture, history, and preservation of the heritage of maritime communities in Southeast Asia.

At the opening ceremony of the forum, participants were addressed by Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Chairperson of the UNESCO Memory of the World Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific Kyu-bae Kim, who highlighted the significance of the event.

Turkmenistan is represented at the international seminar by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO and a researcher of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.

As part of the event, ceremonies were held for the signing of agreements aimed at developing international cooperation. In addition, a thematic exhibition featuring archival documents, manuscripts, photographs, and film materials reflecting the history of maritime civilizations of the region was opened in the exhibition halls of the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia.