EU regional project promotes collaboration of Ikat producers from Indonesia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

The goal was to exchange knowledge on Ikat production, design and techniques from Central Asia and Bali, to promote collaboration between producers and to make business contacts.

Participants of the talk included 100 ikat producers and business organizations for exports of crafts from Central Asia and Bali, as well as honored guests such as the Ambassador of Indonesia in Tajikistan and the Head of Dekranasda Bali: the Crafts Council of Bali.

The talk is organized in a collaboration between the Bali project “Ikat Craft for Empowerment and a better livelihood” and the project "Reviving Uzbekistan's and Tajikistan's sustainable Ikat and Silk RUTSIS" (RUTSIS), funded by the European Union.

To open a new perspective about Ikat, Balinese weaver & youth should learn ikat & style from various countries, to understand Bali ikat’s strength & weakness compare to others. Central Asia has ikat and similarity with Bali Ikat “Endek”, but has different styles of colors.

The project "Reviving Uzbekistan's and Tajikistan's sustainable Ikat and Silk" (RUTSIS) is being implemented within the SWITCH-Asia program funded by the European Union. The objectives of the project include the promotion of sustainable growth along the Great Silk Road in Central Asia, the contribution to the revival and upgrade of local silk and Ikat value chains, the integration of sustainable production approaches in an ethically and environmentally friendly way, strengthening cross-cultural dialogue between Uzbek and Tajik societies, creating new education and employment opportunities, safeguarding ancient silk and Ikat production techniques, and developing innovative sustainable design and enhancing recognition of Central Asian sustainable silk and ikat products in the international market.

The project is implemented by a consortium of organizations and consulting companies from Germany, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, in particular: adelphi consult GmbH (Germany), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the NGO "Tourism Development Center" (Tajikistan), the NGO "Center for the Development of Crafts Margilan" (Uzbekistan) and Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle (Germany).

For details, please contact: Nigina Ikromi, (+992) 938848488, ikrominigina@gmail.com.