By joining the Creative Cities Network, selected cities commit to joint collaboration of creative cities around the world as a way to enhance and promote creativity, share best cultural practices, and integrate culture in economic and social development plans. Bamyan is known for traditional handicrafts such as sculpting and folk art, carpet weaving, while the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of Bamyan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. Bamyan was also recognized as the Cultural Capital of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the year 2015. In summer 2015, UNESCO assisted the municipality of Bamyan within the framework of the Korean government funded project ‘Bamiyan Cultural Centre’, in preparing the nomination dossier for Bamyan to join this Network. The Bamyan Cultural Centre project is committed to building a Cultural Centre and Museum in Bamyan province, and promoting Bamyan as a creative hub in Afghanistan as a way to preserve cultural heritage, and contribute to the economic development of the city. Launched in 2004 and comprising 116 Member Cities, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to foster international cooperation with and amongst cities committed to investing in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy. On the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2015, Mrs. Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO states that “The UNESCO Creative Cities Network" represents an immense potential to assert the role of culture as enabler of sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the international community in September 2015, also highlights culture and creativity as key levers for sustainable urban development. The Network will continue to serve as an essential platform to contribute to the implementation and achievement of this international agenda.
