KUCHING: France is looking to strengthen cultural and academic ties with Sarawak, including exploring collaboration between Paris’ renowned Quai Branly Museum and the Borneo Cultures Museum.
French Ambassador to Malaysia, Marc Abensour, said the proposal emerged after he was impressed by the Borneo Cultures Museum during his previous visit to Kuching earlier this year.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today, he said he later discussed the idea with the chairman of the Quai Branly Museum after returning to Paris.
“As you may know, there is a well-known museum in Paris called the Quai Branly Museum. It’s a museum dedicated to indigenous civilisations and cultures.
“Last time I was in Kuching, I visited the Borneo Cultures Museum and I must say that I was very much impressed because it is really an outstanding success with fascinating collections,” he told reporters during a press conference after the meeting at the Satria Pertiwi Complex here today.
Abensour said he subsequently proposed that the two museums establish a partnership.
“When I was back in Paris a few weeks ago, I discussed with the chairman of the Quai Branly Museum on the possibility of engaging in collaboration between the two museums.
“And I know there is growing interest from both sides,” he said.
Beyond museum collaboration, Abensour said France and Sarawak also discussed expanding cultural exchanges through performing arts and other programmes.
He noted that French artistes would be participating in this weekend’s Rainforest World Music Festival, which he said could further raise Sarawak’s profile in France.
“It could provide greater visibility for Sarawak in France and contribute not only to preserving its cultural heritage, but also to attracting tourists to Sarawak and promoting the state as a tourism destination,” he said.
Abensour said both sides also explored opportunities to strengthen academic cooperation by linking higher education and research with industrial partnerships.
He added that he had visited the i-CATS University College (i-CATS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), where discussions focused on research collaboration in aeronautics and energy transition.
“We were discussing how to connect higher education and research with our industrial partnerships. That can be on aeronautics, but also on energy transition,” he said.
