Minister PANRB Declares Archives the Foundation of Governance and Public Service

The world of archiving is experiencing disruption due to the development of digital technology. Archives are no longer viewed as static piles of paper, but as assets ready to be analysed digitally. Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Rini Widyantini emphasised that archives are a strategic state asset that forms the foundation for governance and improving the quality of public services. Speaking at a human resources development meeting for archiving with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) in Jakarta on Monday, Rini said technological developments have transformed the role of archivists from mere file managers into strategic information managers capable of supporting data-based decision-making. She noted that archives can be used to analyse weaknesses in public service processes, thereby serving as a basis for improving services to the community. She stressed that strengthening archivist competencies is an inseparable part of the national bureaucratic reform agenda. Rini added that archivists must be able to adapt to technological developments without neglecting archival principles that guarantee the authenticity, integrity, and sustainability of archives. Physical archive management remains necessary as part of the omnichannel service approach implemented by the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform. With this expanded role, archivists are no longer seen merely as document managers, but also as guardians of organisational memory and strategic information managers who support transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of governance. ANRI is also collaborating with various government and private institutions to enhance archivist competencies through technical training and internship programmes for civil servants across different regions. According to Mego, ANRI and the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform are jointly formulating archive management policies that utilise artificial intelligence and hybrid technology. “We are incorporating digital knowledge and skills into the improvement of archival competencies,” said Mego.