Documentary Heritage of Turkmenistan Inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Regional Register

From 2 to 6 November 2026, the 11th General Meeting and International Seminar of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) were held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The event was organized by the National Archives of the Republic 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 theme of the international seminar was “Water World: Sea Nomads, Documentary Heritage and Memory of the World”. The discussions focused on the study and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of sea nomad communities in Southeast Asia.

The opening ceremony featured remarks by Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, and Chairperson of the MOWCAP Regional Committee, Kim Kwibae.

Turkmenistan was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO and a research fellow of the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.

During the General Meeting, nominations of documentary heritage from countries across the region were considered. Following the expert evaluation, 21 documentary heritage items were inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.

Among them is Turkmenistan’s nomination entitled “Archival Sources on the Life and Works of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham”, which received high recognition from the experts.

This marks the first time that documentary heritage from Turkmenistan has been inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.