A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the International Organization of Turkic Culture — TURKSOY and the Center

On June 23, 2025, the next meeting of the Scientific Council was held at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. The event was attended by the Secretary General of TURKSOY, members of the Scientific Council, heads of working groups, and international expert partners.

At the beginning of the meeting, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and Chairman of the Scientific Council, provided information about the updated concept developed on the basis of the ideas and initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at enriching the Center’s exhibition. He also highlighted the importance of implementing the tasks outlined in the new resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, accelerating the execution of projects selected for the first phase within the framework of enhancing the museum exhibition of the Center, the current progress in five key areas, improving the library’s potential, fostering international cooperation, organizing global exhibitions and scientific events, and strengthening collaboration with mass media and multimedia projects.

Then, the main guest of the meeting — TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev took the floor and emphasized that the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is not only a unique phenomenon for Uzbekistan, but also for the entire region, as well as the Turkic and Muslim world. He noted that this major institution is a result of the distinctive policy being implemented by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in the framework of the New Uzbekistan initiative.

The main part of the meeting program featured the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between TURKSOY and the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.

Additionally, within the framework of the event, ancient coins, rare artifacts, and textiles donated to enrich the museum collection were exhibited. Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Ghaybulla Boboyorov highlighted the scholarly and cultural significance of these items, noting that Central Asia, particularly the territory of Uzbekistan, has long stood out for its coin finds, and that trade and economic relations have been carried out primarily through coinage for over 2,500 years.

As part of the meeting agenda, a detailed review was conducted on nearly ten key issues, including the visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Center on January 29 of this year; the updated concept developed under his initiative; the minutes of the extended meeting of the Board of Trustees held on March 11; and the implementation of tasks outlined in the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 392m, adopted in June. These issues include enriching the museum exhibition, advancing projects from scientific, educational, and technological perspectives, forming the library’s collection, and organizing the official opening ceremony of the Center at a high level.

In addition, several proposals were reviewed to further enhance the museum exhibition, specifically:

Launching the scientific restoration laboratory;

Presenting the second floor of the Center and the KING’S COLLEGE School of Calligraphy;

Presentations on the five thematic directions of the museum exhibition;

Events to be held in London as part of the opening festivities, including an auction and the anticipated inclusion of historical and cultural heritage items;

Presentations within the library section on scanning rare books according to modern technical standards and ensuring their preservation;

Discussions on cooperation and promotional strategies with foreign mass media outlets.

Special attention was also given to ongoing efforts to enrich the museum exhibition of the mega-project, including analysis of the first phase of nearly 800 developed projects, acceleration of their implementation process, and the organization of the official opening ceremony at the highest level.

As part of the agenda, the approval of the presentation schedule for the final media projects of the first-category within the first-phase projects for the Museum of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan was discussed. Preparatory work was reviewed for the exhibition sections titled “Pre-Islamic period,” the First and Second Renaissance periods, Uzbekistan in the 20th Century, the Period of the Khanates, and “New Uzbekistan – the Foundation of a New Renaissance”.

Specific tasks were assigned to coordinate the activities of all working and sub-working groups to ensure timely and high-quality execution of the approved projects.

It is worth noting that, in accordance with the decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, dated June 23, 2017, the foundation stone of the Center was laid on the day of Eid al-Fitr in 2018. The Center is located on an area of more than 7 hectares. Four grand iwans, each 34 meters high, have been constructed on all sides of the building, and a majestic central dome rising to 65 meters has been built at its center.