Solopos.com, JAKARTA – To promote and encourage outstanding crafts, the National Crafts Council (Dekranas) once again held the Kriyanusa 2023 Exhibition with the theme “Superior Crafts, Advanced Indonesia” at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) from Wednesday to Sunday (September 13–17, 2023). Handicrafts or kriya have become valuable assets in meeting global market demands.
Hundreds of artisan products from across the country were beautifully displayed at the event, which was attended by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and Vice President’s wife Wury Ma’ruf Amin. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, or BRI, as one of the event's sponsors, also showcased the best craft products from its assisted MSMEs.
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The Kriyanusa 2023 Exhibition is a concrete effort by Dekranas to develop business capacities and local craft products while preserving the cultural identity of all regions in Indonesia. Wury Ma’ruf Amin stated that this event also brings economic benefits to Indonesia.
“Superior crafts are not just about honoring tradition and culture, but also about creating jobs, promoting sustainability, and generating significant economic benefits for Indonesia,” she said in her speech at the opening of Kriyanusa 2023.
Echoing Wury’s statement, Liza Thohir, wife of the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir and Head of the Dekranas Funding Division, hopes that this annual event, now in its sixth consecutive year, will continue to support local products. Additionally, she encourages artisans to enhance their creativity.
“The main goal of the Kriyanusa Exhibition is to help market Dekranasda-assisted products and provide a platform for the Nusantara craft industry to continuously strive for creativity and innovation to improve their business performance and showcase their superior products,” she said.
BRI seized the opportunity to facilitate local businesses in the craft industry to gain global recognition. As Indonesia’s largest bank by customer base, BRI provided four of its assisted MSMEs with the opportunity to exhibit their products.
The four MSMEs were Craftote: Gallery & Coffee , which produces woven bamboo products and operates a coffee shop; Lion Keramik Industri, which offers ceramic-based household items; Lampu Runa , which specializes in creatively designed, eco-friendly lamps; and Maja Watch , which produces environmentally friendly wristwatches.
BRI Consumer Business Director Handayani stated that participating in this annual Dekranas event is highly valuable, especially for assisted MSMEs. This aligns with BRI's commitment to elevating MSMEs to the global market.
“BRI provides financial services to support the government's MSME funding programs. The role of MSMEs in meeting public needs is crucial, so it is hoped that the participation of BRI-assisted MSMEs in Kriyanusa 2023 will further strengthen public trust in MSMEs,” she said.
This year’s exhibition, which highlights Betawi cultural icons, was enlivened with various events, including talk shows, craft-making demonstrations, fashion shows, and cultural performances from different regions. Kriyanusa 2023 was further highlighted by the Dekranas Award program, an appreciation from Dekranas for creative entrepreneurs and artisans with Indonesia’s best crafts.
