KUCHING: Kuching has been selected to host the International Council on Archives (ICA) Conference 2027, a major recognition for Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, in the field of archive management and digital heritage.

The selection was announced by the Paris-based ICA on May 28, beating out nominations from Bogota, Colombia and Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Director-General of the National Archives of Malaysia, Dato’ Jaafar Sidek, said the recognition was an honour and proof of Malaysia’s ability to organise world-class conferences.

“We hosted the conference in 2008 with over 1,000 participants from 109 countries. This time, our target is also more than 1,000 participants, although the minimum set by the ICA is 700 to 800,” he explained.

He said this after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg at the Kompleks Satria Pertiwi on Monday.

The theme of the conference in 2027 is ‘Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age’, with a focus on electronic records management and digitisation approaches as the best method for storing and disseminating global information.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarawak State Library, Japri Bujang Masli, said Sarawak is building a new state archive building which is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

The building will be equipped with the latest technology including a robotic-based Archival Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) for storing and accessing archival materials.

“With this modern facility, we will not only be able to preserve government documents and national heritage, but also share expertise with the international archival community,” he explained.

The conference is expected to attract archivists, information experts, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to discuss innovations, challenges and the future of the archival field in the digital age.

Also present at the courtesy call were the Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sarawak, Amelia Roziman, Deputy Director-General of the National Archives of Malaysia, Zaidin Mohd Noor, as well as senior officers. -UKASnews