Wednesday, September 21, 2022 | 20:05 WIB

Investor Daily (redaksi@investor.id)

JAKARTA, investor.id — After a two-year hiatus, the National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) is once again holding the Kriyanusa 2022 exhibition under the theme "The Spirit of Survival, Competitive Artisans.” The event takes place from September 21-25, 2022, at Hall A, Jakarta Convention Center. The exhibition was inaugurated by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and Dekranas Chairwoman, also known as the National Craft Mother, Wury Ma’ruf Amin.

Established on March 3, 1980, Dekranas has been a pioneer in bringing together national craft industry enthusiasts. Dekranas serves as a driving force in the craft industry and has played a role as a government partner in nurturing and developing traditional and cultural heritage into increasingly high-quality and competitive handicrafts throughout Indonesia.

Elizabeth Thohir, Chairperson of the Kriyanusa 2022 Exhibition, stated that "the main goal of Kriyanusa 2022 is to support the marketing of products fostered by Dekranasda and to provide space for the Nusantara craft industry to continuously foster creativity and innovation to improve business performance and showcase its superior products.”

"The handicraft industry is one of the sectors that has been able to adapt and innovate amidst the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing it to survive and even support the national economic recovery (PEN),” she added.

Each year, the Kriyanusa Exhibition highlights a different regional icon from across Indonesia. This year, the featured icon comes from Lampung Province, showcasing the Pucuk Rebung Motif and Raja Medal Motif.

The Bamboo Shoot Motif is commonly found in woven fabrics from Java and Sumatra and is associated with the proverb, "Glorious in youth, even more so in adulthood.” Young bamboo shoots are tender and nutritious, but when mature, they stand tall and strong while remaining humble. In Lampung, this motif is worn by married women during traditional ceremonies and symbolizes fertility.

Meanwhile, the Raja Medal Motif features a ship and its crew, symbolizing that the wearer is a woman of high status, similar to a donor’s wife (Traditional Ship). The ship emblem pays homage to Lampung’s past as a maritime power.

The Kriyanusa 2022 Exhibition presents handicraft products of increasingly high quality, helping Indonesian crafts gain global recognition. "This exhibition is a great initiative to promote Indonesian handicrafts internationally,” said Reni Yanita, Secretary-General of Dekranas and Director-General of Small, Medium, and Various Industries at the Ministry of Industry.

"Additionally, Kriyanusa is a highly anticipated craft exhibition, not only in Indonesia but also internationally, as it showcases superior regional handicraft products created by skilled and competitive IKM artisans,” she added.

Export Value and Contribution of the Handicraft Industry

According to data from the Ministry of Industry, the handicraft industry subsector achieved an export value of USD 916 million in 2021, reflecting a 10.49% increase compared to the 2020 export value of USD 829 million. Additionally, data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy shows that the handicraft subsector contributed IDR 166.13 trillion to the national GDP in 2020, employing approximately 3.9 million people.

Reni further emphasized that as a nation rich in ethnic diversity, customs, arts, culture, and languages, Indonesia has the potential to create unique and high-quality handicrafts.

"Hopefully, the Kriyanusa exhibition will provide all participants with opportunities to increase productivity while educating and stimulating their understanding of actively and comprehensively promoting handicraft products,” she concluded.

The Kriyanusa 2022 exhibition will also feature talk shows, craft demonstrations, fashion shows, and performances from various regions.

The event is organized by Dekranas, with participation from 147 exhibitors from different regions, and is supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Investment/BKPM, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, and sponsored by Bank Negara Indonesia, PT Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Telkom Indonesia, Pertamina, MIND ID, PTPN, PLN, Indosat, and Pelindo.

Editor: Nurjoni (nurjoni@investor.co.id)

Source: Investor Daily