An archive is a part of cultural work that is priceless. We can see the history or the past of a nation to become a part of organizing the future. Archives can also become a way out and solution to plan our future as both individuals and nations.

In tracing the Spice Routes, archives become essential, a note and documentation to reveal the traces, heritage, and stories back in those days of the glorious era of Nusantara trade.

In collaboration with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia, the Directorate General of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia held an International Virtual Coordination Meeting Spice Routes Archive as World Documentary Heritage on Thursday, 10 December 2020.

Hilmar Farid, the Director-General of Culture, the Ministry of Education of Culture and M. Taufik, the Acting Head of the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia, became the key speakers of the discussion. Speakers from other countries also came to the discussion with exciting presentations. They were Johan Van Langen from the National Archives of the Netherlands, Imam Gunarto and multi Siswati from the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia, Haji Shaharuddin Ismail from the National Archives of Malaysia, and Wu Yuan Yuan and Liu Wen Hua from the National Archives Administration of China.

In the opening of the discussion, Hilmar Farid as the key speaker stated that the consolidation of archives related to the Spice Routes that spread in various places is needed to be performed as a step to increase the awareness regarding the preservation of the past documents. According to Hilmar, it can be useful to broaden the access of public knowledge and not merely to gain UNESCO’s recognition.

Want to know more as to how the discussion ran? Watch the full video below. Enjoy!