Coordinating Minister For SMEs Strengthens Downstreaming Of Garut's Serban-Based Fashion Products

Menkop UKM Teten Masduki (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (MenKopUKM) Teten Masduki plans to build a Factory Sharing or Joint Production House in Garut Regency, West Java, by strengthening the downstreaming of sheep skin-based fashion products from Garut.

"I, along with designer Poppy Dharsono and the Regent of Garut, will develop the downstreaming of Garut's original skin products, so that the quality of the products is much better," said MenKopUKM Teten Masduki in a press release, quoted Monday, May 8.

Minister Teten said, apart from building a joint production house, it is also necessary to build and improve the quality of human resources in it. "We will cooperate with other parties, especially with skin products designers, so that human resources here will develop more," he said.

He then compared it with a well-known brand from Italy, Gucci, who was both 100 years old. In fact, both of them at that time both started by producing horse saddles.

"Colonial threats, Garut skin craftsmen have also made horse saddles. However, Italian products are able to develop rapidly to become well-known and global brands. Meanwhile, Garut is only a skin jacket product, it still has to be fixed," said Teten.

To support this, Minister Teten hopes that Garut will develop more major events to promote the superior potential of its region. He compared it with Banyuwangi which has 160 events in a year, making it the second largest destination after Bali visited by tourists.

Moreover, Garut Regency has several well-known tourism potentials and superior products, such as natural tourism, Garut orange commodity, Garut dodol, Garut Batik, Garutan fashion and Garut leather craft, to fragrant root oil. In addition, Garut Regency also has an advantage in the livestock sector, namely Garut sheep.

For Minister Teten, by developing tourism in Garut Regency, it will automatically have an impact on increasing the business of MSME actors in the region. "MSME actors can develop the quality of typical souvenirs from Garut, especially dodols and skin products," he said.

Furthermore, said Teten, for example, Japan is able to package souvenirs from the country with the concept of a gift or a gift. "They don't just sell food and handicrafts. More than that, their products have good and unique packaging. We have to direct Garut like that, because from there the power of MSMEs can be optimized," he said.

"It must be carefully planned, so that there are events that enter the national calendar, even the world. Just look at Jember, they have Jember Fashion Carnaval which has become a world calendar event," added Teten.

Meanwhile, Garut Deputy Regent Helmi Budiman believes that this year Factory Sharing skin products will soon be established. The goal is to improve the quality of MSME products from Garut, especially skin products.

"This event is also an implementation of President Jokowi's mandate to grow the regional economy, especially in the tourism sector and MSMEs," he concluded.