“Samarqand qog’ozi” or “Samarkand Paper” has been officially registered as a geographical indication. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Justice, with support from the Samarkand Regional Department of Justice and the state institution “Intellectual Property Center.” This recognition marks a significant step in preserving national craftsmanship and historical heritage.

Shukhrat Abdukhalimov, Deputy Head of the Samarkand Regional Department of Justice, ceremonially presented the official certificate confirming the geographical indication status of “Samarkand Paper” to Zarif Mukhtorov, head of the Konigil-Meros Craft Center.

With a history spanning over a thousand years, Samarkand Paper is renowned for its intricate and distinctive production process. Traditionally, branches of the Balh mulberry tree are soaked in water for a set period. The bark is then peeled off, and the coarse brown inner layer is carefully removed using a knife. The cleaned yellowish bark is boiled in a cauldron for 5–6 hours.

In the next stage, the softened bark is crushed in wooden mortars using special mallets for 7–8 hours until it becomes fine fibers. These fibers are placed in a large container, thoroughly mixed with water from the Siyob stream, and filtered through special rectangular strainers. The resulting wet paper sheets are pressed between wooden boards for 8–10 hours.

Each sheet is then individually applied to a smooth surface for finishing. The final stage involves placing the paper on polished marble and smoothing it with a shell or agate stone. The result is the finished Samarkand Paper.

Samarkand Paper is valued not only by local miniature artists and calligraphers but also internationally, notably, it is widely used in Japan to restore ancient manuscripts and rare historical works. Its registration as a geographical indication further highlights the historical significance of Samarkand’s traditional crafts.