Ministry Of Industry: Indonesia's Jewelry Export Number 17 In The World

SURABAYA - Director General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries of the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, Reni Yunita, said that Indonesia's jewelry exports are ranked 17th in the world, up from the previous year which was ranked 18th. "So far, our exports for jewelry are number 17 in the world and this shows our exports are increasing. In January to July alone, the value is 3.1 billion US dollars," said Reni when opening the "Surabaya International Jewelery Fair 2023" jewelry exhibition in Surabaya, Thursday. According to Reni, one of the factors that makes the jewelry industry in Indonesia increase is the exhibition that has been held 26 times. "The aim is to introduce our jewelry and gem industry in addition to increasing spending from local. Because we also have domestic potential. But this exhibition is also unbounded locally, which abroad is also open," he said as reported by Antara.

The potential of the jewelry industry in Indonesia, continued Reni, is indeed very large. However, Indonesia needs to increase the processing of stones that have the potential to become jewelry. Especially natural rocks that have properties and colors. "Because we can see, our exports are only 3.1 billion US dollars, that is the foreign exchange. That is what is recorded from its activities, not yet if it creates jobs. So the absorption of the workforce is there," he said. In addition, Indonesia still has mines. If these stones are not exported in the form of commodities but are already in the form of jewelry, that is not invaluable. "So if it is not developed, then we will only become a market destination country because there are many consumers, while the potential is exported in the form of raw materials. That is invaluable," he said.Reni explained that the increase in Indonesia's export ranking to 17 is not easy, because it must compete with countries such as India, China and the United States. The Ministry of Industry targets Indonesia to be ranked in the top 10 of the world. "Therefore, we hope that through this exhibition the jewelry industry will increase, consumers will love and dampen to buy imported products," he said. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Association of Gold Entrepreneurs and Permata Indonesia (APEPI) Jeffry Thumewa hopes that support from the government for the exhibition will increase so that every year Indonesia has jewelry production with export quality. "In this exhibition there are 20 IKM (Small and Medium Industry) from the Ministry of Industry that participates. From East Java there are six. All these IKMs enter after being strictly curated," he said.