Trade Minister Zulhas: It's Time For Muslim Clothing To Go Global

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Minister of Trade) Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) hopes that it is time for Indonesian Muslim fashion or modest fashion to dominate and flood the international market (go global).

Moreover, said Zulhas, Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim majority population in the world.

"I think it's time for Indonesia to go global, to dominate the world, especially these Muslim clothes. We will support the Ministry of Trade, whatever is needed," said Zulkifli in Jakarta, Tuesday, August 23.

He admitted, that the government through the Ministry of Trade supports local designers who have the vision to present their works in foreign markets so that Indonesia can become the mecca of world Muslim fashion.

"But in principle we, from the Ministry of Trade in particular, of course, the government fully supports us so that we can become a mecca for Muslim clothing in the world. And we can also become later not only 1.1 percent, hopefully, later our share in the field of Muslim clothing will become the largest in the world, "said Zulhas.

Zulhas said exports of Muslim clothing in the first half reached US$2.8 billion, an increase of 39.86 percent compared to the same period in 2021, which was US$2.04 billion.

"Even though it's going up, it's still small. We are in the 13th position of the world's Muslim clothing exporters, we have a share of around 1.86 percent, which is very small," he said.

He said the government is currently preparing toll roads through cooperation agreements with other countries so that exports of fashion products do not experience obstacles, such as the cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is currently awaiting ratification.

“We now have hubs for Africa, the Middle East, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, through the UAE, Dubai, with zero percent tax. In short, we have prepared everything so that this will become a milestone for us to invade the international market, including of course Muslim clothing," he said.

Towards the peak of Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) which will be held in October, Zulkifli hopes that the annual event will be a milestone for modest fashion to invade the world market.

Not only JMFW, Zulhas said, but his party will also support international-scale fashion events that are attended by local brands.

"There are 40 ITPCs at the Ministry of Trade, representatives. So later if there are similar exhibitions, we will try to send our designers for exhibitions as well as to attract entrepreneurs in the country who hold exhibitions," concluded Zulhas.