Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), attended the closing ceremony of the Second Regional Seminar on the Cultural Heritage Nomination and Integrated Management. The seminar was organized by ICESCO, through its Regional Office in Baku and its Islamic World Heritage Center, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture, from 3 to 5 November 2026 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It aimed to strengthen capacities for the sustainable management of heritage in Central Asia.

At the closing ceremony, attended by Mr. Aibek Sydykov, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, Dr. AlMalik and Mr. Sydykov both underscored the importance of regional cooperation in safeguarding cultural heritage. The ICESCO Director-General also highlighted the Organization’s efforts to support its Member States in preserving their cultural heritage for future generations.

The Seminar included a capacity-building workshop in which heritage experts from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan received practical training in nominating heritage sites, approaches to their preservation and management, and methods for assessing the risks they face. The workshop also provided an opportunity to exchange professional expertise.

The event concluded with Dr. AlMalik and Mr. Sydykov presenting certificates of appreciation to the participants.