Date:03/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/03/stories/2007040319260500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Australia-India heritage conservation tie-up

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI : AusHeritage, Australia's top heritage network, and INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) signed a memorandum of understanding in Delhi on Monday to collaborate on cultural heritage initiatives. The MoU, signed at the inaugural session of a three-day Australia-India seminar on `Managing and Conserving Cultural Heritage' will expand the collaboration between AusHeritage and INTACH to work together more closely in South Asian and South East Asia regional initiatives, according to a press release issued here.

"The MoU signals the close and growing collaboration between our two countries in preserving cultural heritage. AusHeritage, Australia's international network for heritage services, has worked with INTACH and other Indian institutions on several projects, including workshops and training sessions, in recent years," said Mr John McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to India. "AusHeritage and INTACH heritage practitioners have a strong history of collaboration as they learn from each other in preserving our valuable past for future generations," said Mr Vinod Daniel, Chair, AusHeritage.

"The memorandum of understanding is a result of the close working relationship between the two organisations and will be of huge benefit as we learn and support each other," he said.

Fifteen senior Australian heritage management experts are in India to participate in the AusHeritage-INTACH seminar with INTACH from Monday to Wednesday to share heritage conservation management expertise and experiences. This is the largest delegation of Australian heritage experts to visit India.