Representatives of Turkmenistan are participating in an international training seminar held under UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, which has opened in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Dedicated to the preservation of historical manuscripts and archival documents, their digitization, and their promotion at the international level, the forum has become one of the largest events held in the Asia-Pacific region since the programme began to be implemented.

The Turkmen delegation is headed by Chynar Rustemova, Executive Secretary of Turkmenistan’s National Commission for UNESCO. The delegation also includes Maksat Meredov, a research fellow at the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.

The five-day training seminar is organized by the National Archives of Indonesia in cooperation with the national commissions for UNESCO of Indonesia and the Republic of Korea, as well as the Korea Heritage Service.

The training programme is aimed at improving the professional qualifications of national specialists and familiarizing them with modern international standards for preserving historical heritage. Experts from 16 countries in the region are expanding their knowledge and sharing experience in assessing the physical condition of rare manuscript collections, managing risks associated with their storage, digitizing archival materials, and preparing the necessary documentation to nominate national written heritage items for inclusion in UNESCO’s international Memory of the World Register.

The participation of Turkmen scholars and diplomats in this international event will help improve efforts to digitize the country’s manuscript heritage and promote the rich historical, cultural, and documentary heritage of the Turkmen people more widely among the international community.

The international training seminar in Jakarta will continue until October 18.