Indonesia prepares UNESCO bid for traditional weaving

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is preparing a UNESCO nomination for its diverse traditional weaving heritage, with Culture Minister Fadli Zon calling for stronger documentation and a national database to support the bid.

"We need to strengthen documentation and expand literacy about Indonesian textiles. Various types of regional weaving need to be highlighted through books and proper documentation so that this cultural wealth becomes better known," Fadli said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The strategy was discussed during Fadli's meeting with representatives of the Cita Tenun Indonesia (CTI) Foundation in Jakarta on Tuesday (Oct. 13).

He stressed that the nomination dossier must be supported by valid data demonstrating the existence and continuity of weaving traditions within communities.

Sjamsidar Isa, who oversees quality control at CTI, said the foundation was committed to securing collective recognition for Indonesia's diverse weaving heritage.

"Indonesian weaving encompasses an extraordinary diversity of techniques. Therefore, we want to nominate weaving as a whole to UNESCO, rather than just one particular technique," Sjamsidar said.

The meeting agreed to develop an integrated national weaving database documenting traditional techniques, including ikat, songket, rangrang, and sobbi, alongside profiles of the artisans who practice them.

The initiative will also include books documenting regional weaving traditions at risk of extinction. These publications are intended to serve as official references for researchers, designers, and younger generations.

On diplomatic strategy, Fadli said UNESCO's regulations needed to be examined carefully. The government is currently reviewing two possible approaches: a joint nomination with other countries or an extension of an existing UNESCO recognition.

The Ministry of Culture and CTI pledged to maintain close coordination to refine the nomination dossier and strengthen professional skills in the traditional textile sector on an ongoing basis.

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Translator: Abdu Faisal, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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