Medan, July 4, 2026 – The North Sumatra Chapter of the Indonesian Historical Society (MSI) organized a book discussion titled Islamic Maritime Trade on the West Coast of Sumatra (1st–4th Centuries AH / 7th–10th Centuries CE) on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) Library. The event served as an academic forum that brought together historians, academics, researchers, students, and members of the public to discuss scholarly findings on the history of Islamic maritime trade along the west coast of Sumatra.
The discussion centered on a book authored by Abu Bakar Said, Founder of the Sultanate Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Ery Soedewo, S.S., M.Hum. The publication highlights the strategic role of Sumatra's west coast as an integral part of the Islamic maritime trade network during the 1st–4th centuries AH (7th–10th centuries CE), while offering new perspectives on the development of Islam in Southeast Asia.
The program commenced with participant registration, followed by the opening ceremony, the singing of the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya, and a prayer. Prof. Dr. Suprayitno, M.Hum., Chair of the Organizing Committee, then delivered the event report. This was followed by opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Agus Mulyana, M.Hum., Chairman of the Indonesian Historical Society (MSI) and Director of History and Museums at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of academic forums such as book discussions in expanding the dissemination of historical research to a wider audience.
The Chairman of the Sultanate Institute subsequently delivered remarks, highlighting the importance of inter-institutional collaboration in advancing the study of Indonesia's maritime history. The event was officially inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Syahril Efendi, S.Si., M.I.T., Director of the Universitas Sumatera Utara Library.
In his address, Prof. Syahril Efendi expressed his appreciation to the authors for publishing Islamic Maritime Trade on the West Coast of Sumatra (1st–4th Centuries AH / 7th–10th Centuries CE). He reaffirmed that the Universitas Sumatera Utara Library continues to transform into a leading information center in the digital era, serving not only as a provider of collections and information services but also as a hub for academic collaboration, scholarly discussion, and the dissemination of research for the university community and the public.
As part of strengthening institutional collaboration, the event continued with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universitas Sumatera Utara and the Sultanate Institute, followed by the exchange of commemorative plaques as a symbol of partnership. The organizing committee also presented tokens of appreciation to the Sultanate Institute, the authors, and the invited speakers in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of historical scholarship. The opening session concluded with a group photo involving the organizing committee, authors, speakers, moderator, and invited guests.
The main session was moderated by Dr. Edi Sumarno, M.Hum., who introduced the authors before inviting Dr. Ery Soedewo, S.S., M.Hum., and Abu Bakar Said to present the contents of the book. Their presentation outlined key research findings on the Islamic maritime trade routes along Sumatra's west coast and the region's contribution to the development of Islamic civilization in the Indonesian archipelago.
The discussion continued with presentations by two distinguished reviewers, Prof. Dr. Agus Mulyana, M.Hum., and Warjio, Ph.D., who examined the book from the perspectives of history and socio-political studies, enriching participants' understanding of its scholarly contributions.
The interactive discussion generated enthusiastic participation from lecturers, students, researchers, historians, MSI members, and the general public. During the question-and-answer session, participants raised insightful questions and offered critical perspectives, reflecting the growing interest in the study of Indonesia's maritime history.
Through this event, the North Sumatra Chapter of the Indonesian Historical Society (MSI), in collaboration with the Universitas Sumatera Utara Library, reaffirmed its commitment to organizing academic forums that promote historical research, strengthen literacy culture, and enhance public understanding of Indonesia's rich maritime heritage. The event also underscored the USU Library's commitment to serving as a center of information, literacy, and academic collaboration that supports the dissemination of knowledge in the digital era.