JICA”s Uzbekistan Office organizes press tours for the media on regular basis. The purpose of the press tours is to demonstrate the implementation of the Programs of Technical Cooperation and different educational programs open for citizens of Uzbekistan.
One of such press tours organized by the JIC Office in Uzbekistan for the media was held on 11 December in Samarkand. A member of the editorial took part in this event and familiarized with the activity of volunteers working at different institutions in Tashkent, as well as JICA”s projects across Uzbekistan.
The first stop of the press tour was at the Centre for Samarkand”s Hand-Made Silk Paper created on the base of the Meros Craftsmen”s Association. The craftsmen of the Association revived the old art of manual production of Samarkand silk paper, and re-introduced it to the world. This partnership program initiated by JICA is cooperation between the NAP nonprofit organization, the Minamata city authorities (Japan), Samarkand city authorities, and the NGOs implemented for the purpose of assisting the recovery of the paper of the 8th century, training of craftsmen on paper production, and developing new tourist products.
In the Koni Gil village of Samarkand a water mill was built, and the production of silk paper was launched with the financial assistance of the UNESCO and JICA. Also, this centre”s numerous guests are received by craftsmen working in ceramics, embroidery, textiles, natural silk, stone and wood carving, jewellery, national toys and miniatures, and musical instruments production.
