SOLO, jatengnetwork.com – The Grand Ceremony of the 44th Anniversary of the Indonesian National Craft Council (Dekranas) was attended by First Lady and Dekranas Patron, Iriana Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

The series of events for the 44th Dekranas anniversary took place from May 15 to 18, 2024, in Solo City.

The grand celebration began on May 15 with a thanksgiving ceremony and the opening of the expo.

First Lady Iriana, along with Dekranas Chairperson Wury Ma’ruf Amin, as well as the entire Central Management Board of Dekranas and members of OASE Kabinet Indonesia Maju, then inspected the expo at Pamedan Field, Pura Mangkunegaran.

In her speech, Iriana praised the appearance of hundreds of participants and guests, most of whom were Dekranasda members. They confidently showcased local clothing products from their respective regions.

“Earlier, I was amazed because all the ladies here wore their own regional fabrics. On this special day, I would like to say happy 44th anniversary to Dekranas. I officially open the Dekranas Expo 2024. Thank you,” she said.

Dekranas Chairperson Wury Ma’ruf Amin stated that since its founding 44 years ago, Dekranas has undergone a long journey filled with challenges and proud achievements.

“We have heard and seen how Indonesian craft industry products have gained national and international recognition. Let us continue growing together, inspiring one another, and elevating our cultural heritage to greater heights,” Wury encouraged.

Deputy Chief Executive I of Dekranas and Chairperson of the 44th Dekranas Anniversary Celebration Committee, Loemongga Agus Gumiwang, explained that this year’s theme is ‘Growing Together, Advancing National Heritage,’ reflecting the spirit of achieving Dekranas’ vision and mission.

“With this theme, we invite all Indonesians to participate in preserving and developing crafts and textiles, which are inseparable parts of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage,” Loemongga explained.

It is known that Dekranas’ anniversary falls on March 3 each year. Loemongga mentioned that a series of events had been held since March 2024, including training, mentoring, and workshops in collaboration with all ministries and agencies ex officio of Dekranas.

These events also included a subsidized staple food bazaar as a way to give back to the community.

“The Grand Celebration of the 44th Dekranas Anniversary begins today with 1,500 invited guests. It will be followed by the 2024 Dekranas Craft and Cultural Decorated Car Parade, covering a route from Sriwedari Stadium to Pura Mangkunegaran. Additionally, a four-day expo will take place,” added Loemongga.

It is reported that the Dekranas Expo features 257 craft product booths, Nusantara culinary booths, and consultation services for artisans.

Equally important, the event will include “Dekranas Talks,” serving as a discussion platform covering various interesting topics such as digitalization of small and medium industries, global product reach, and branding strategies from cross-ministerial institutions, private sectors, state-owned enterprises, and provincial/regency/city Dekranasda.

The event will conclude with the Decorated Car Parade Competition and Cultural Procession, where participants will compete for the First Lady’s Trophy.

The parade will feature hundreds of decorated cars traveling along a 2.3-kilometer route. (*)