Ministry of Information and Culture has officially endorsed a new project in the Culture Sector, in an agreement signed between Mitsuji SUZUKA, Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan and Jordan Naidoo, Director of the UNESCO Kabul Office and Representative to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, a statement from Japan embassy in Kabul said yesterday.

The new project signed “Sustainable Management of the World Heritage Property in Bamyan – Preparing the Removal of Bamyan from the List of World Heritage in Danger”, totals approximately USD 3.8 Million (423 Million Japanese Yen) and marks nearly two decades of cultural cooperation between Japan and Afghanistan.
For the past 20 years, since its inscription as a World Heritage property, the people of Japan have generously provided support to Bamyan, contributing more than USD 7M over five consecutive Funds in Trust programs, the statement reads.
The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamyan Valley was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2003, and simultaneously placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Since then, UNESCO and the Afghan authorities have been working closely together to protect this unique site, promoting cultural heritage as a driver to poverty alleviation and sustainable development, according to the statement.
“I believe that the Afghans will reaffirm their dignity and pride through conservation and restoration of their historical heritage. In addition, this project will also enable effective management of Bamyan World Heritage site and tourism development, which will contribute to job creation and income generation opportunities in Afghanistan,” Ambassador SUZUKA was quoted in the statement as saying.
“The Project of Sustainable Management of the Bamiyan Heritage Property is one of the very important projects for Afghanistan. This project will ensure safeguarding of Bamiyan cultural properties and will focus on to tackle the benchmarks defined by World Heritage Committee to remove the site from the list of World Heritage in Danger,” deputy minister of culture and art of the ministry of information and culture added. Meanwhile Jordan Naidoo of UNESCO said that the new project signed would provide continuity to the successful and long-lasting cooperation between the Japanese Government and its people, the Government of Afghanistan and UNESCO, in our joint-efforts towards the preservation of his World Heritage property and the sustainable development of Bamiyan. Japan has been assisting Afghanistan’s nation building efforts in various fields including security, health, culture, humanitarian assistance, agriculture, and capacity development. The Government of Japan and UNESCO remain committed to continue providing support to Afghanistan in the Culture Sector, contributing to the removal of Bamiyan from the List of World Heritage in Danger.