Ministry Of Industry Targets Batik Exports To Reach 100 Million US Dollars Throughout 2023

Batik illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) targets the export value of batik and batik products to reach 100 million US dollars, throughout 2023. This is because the batik industry has a very important role for the national economy.

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said, throughout 2022, the export value of batik and batik products exceeded 64.56 million US dollars, an increase of 30.1 percent compared to the achievement in 2021.

Meanwhile, in the January-April 2023 period, the export value of batik and batik products exceeded 26.7 million US dollars.

"And it is targeted to reach up to 100 million US dollars by 2023," said Minister of Industry Agus in a written statement, Thursday, August 3.

Agus said the batik industry is a labor-intensive sector that has absorbed millions of workers. This means, he continued, the batik industry sector has provided life and income for millions of Indonesians.

He is optimistic that the performance of the batik industry will continue to grow, especially after being separated from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, he continued, a positive signal that stimulates the economy was also given by the IMF which estimates that economic growth in 2023 will reach three (3) percent or increase from last April's projection (2.8 percent).

"According to President Joko Widodo, this is now a very good momentum for the batik industry to be able to rise again, because the economy is growing," he said.

Therefore, Agus continued, in efforts to develop the batik industry, collaboration from various parties is needed, such as associations, business actors, designers, academics, e-commerce, to influencers.

According to him, batik Nusantara has high advantages and competitiveness due to its innovative motifs, designs, and patterns based on local wisdom.

Furthermore, Agus said, currently there are four geographical indications of batik, namely Batik Nitik Yogyakarta, Batik Besurek Bengkulu, Sarong Batik Pekalongan, and Batik Complongan Indramayu. Geographical indications of batik are a form of protection for intellectual property or batik motifs that are characteristic of an area.

"We hope that the batik community can register their products with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and this year there will be two additional indications of batik geography, namely Batik Sogan Solo and Batik Tuban," he said.