Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – In order to provide a platform for Indonesian artisans to promote Indonesia's top craft products, the National Craft Council (Dekranas) once again held an exhibition and bazaar showcasing the country's finest handicrafts.

This event was also organized as part of the celebration of Dekranas' 40th anniversary. The exhibition and bazaar took place at Rumah Kriya Asri Dekranas, Jakarta, on Thursday (March 5, 2020), and was attended by Dekranas' Patron, Iriana Joko Widodo.

The Chairperson of the 40th Dekranas Anniversary Celebration Committee, Yantie Airlangga, stated in a press release on Friday (March 13, 2020) that this year's exhibition and bazaar chose Madura Island as the icon. This decision was based on Madura's status as a potential batik-producing region, contributing to the nation's rich cultural heritage.

"The chosen tagline is ‘I Love Indonesian Crafts.’ By loving Indonesian crafts, we encourage people to buy and wear them,” Yantie explained.

In addition to the exhibition and bazaar, the anniversary celebration also featured the Madureh dance from Madura, a Madura batik fashion show, and performances by Dekranas committee members. In the evening, a music show was held, featuring performances by renowned Indonesian singers Reza and RAN.

Dekranas Chairperson, Wury Ma’ruf Amin, emphasized that as Dekranas reaches its fourth decade, it is expected to become more productive and play a larger role in the development of Indonesian crafts.

"Over the past 40 years, Dekranas and Dekranasda have carried out numerous programs in collaboration with government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and private entities to support artisans, as well as to preserve and develop Indonesian craft products,” she explained.

She urged all Dekranas and Dekranasda administrators to be more active and enthusiastic in implementing Dekranas' work programs, aiming to achieve its vision and mission. These efforts support Indonesia’s economic independence by developing a craft sector based on local wisdom, high added value, and competitiveness, enabling it to compete both domestically and internationally, ultimately driving exports.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Small, Medium, and Various Industries (IKMA), Gati Wibawaningsih, who also attended the event, explained that the craft industry plays an important role in contributing to the national economy. This is evident from its significant foreign exchange earnings through exports.

Indonesia’s craft industry has been experiencing increasing export performance. By the end of 2019, the export value of Indonesian crafts reached US$892 million (approximately IDR 12.48 trillion), marking a 2.5% increase from the 2018 export value of US$870 million.

Recognizing the potential of the national craft industry, Gati is optimistic that the export value will continue to rise, supported by improvements in product quality, design, and packaging. These efforts align with technological advancements and human resource competency development. "This is a remarkable achievement, and we hope to see further growth, allowing Indonesia to become one of the world's largest craft producers,” Gati concluded.

Source: Beritasatu.com