Minister Of Trade Zulhas Optimistic That Indonesia Can Become The World's Muslim Fashion Center

Trade Minister, Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan is optimistic that Indonesia can become a global Muslim fashion mecca with the potential for cultural diversity, local wisdom, and human resources (HR).

"A variety of traditional Indonesian fabrics with philosophical values are a source of creativity for Indonesian Muslim fashion designers and business actors that other countries do not have. This is the key to realizing Indonesia as the world's Muslim fashion mecca in 2024," said the Minister of Trade at Road to Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) 2023 in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, August 23.

The Trade Minister explained that the market potential for Muslim fashion and modest fashion is very large and Indonesia's role must be even greater, considering that the world's Muslim population is equal to 25 percent of the world's total population. Even in 2060 is predicted to increase to 30 percent of the global population. In addition, the purchasing power of modest fashion products has increased by 6.1 percent in the last four years.

The event featured fashion shows from eight leading Muslim fashion brands, including Kami, Ria Miranda, IKYK, Ivan Gunawan, Nada Puspita, Wearing Klamby, Khanaan, and Buttonscarves x Benang Jarum.

In addition, the Minister of Trade also had a dialogue with designers regarding the development of the Indonesian Muslim fashion industry, the development of the competence of designers and Indonesian Muslim fashion entrepreneurs, as well as the support and role of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) in realizing Indonesia as the world's Muslim fashion center through JMFW 2023.

"The domestic market is important, but it's time to go global. The Ministry of Trade is ready to fully support efforts to make Indonesia a world Muslim mecca," said Trade Minister Zulkifli. He invited relevant stakeholders to work together to make JMFW successful.

JMFW is a platform established by the Ministry of Trade through the Directorate General of National Export Development in collaboration with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

The Road to JMFW 2023 series has been started from April to September 2022 through various activities. The peak of this year's JMFW will be held on 20-22 October 2022 in conjunction with the 37th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2022 at ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the export value of Muslim fashion in the first semester of 2022 reached US$ 2.85 billion, an increase of 39.86 percent compared to the same period in 2021 of US$ 2.04 billion. Meanwhile, in 2021, Indonesia's Muslim fashion exports will reach 4.68 billion US dollars, an increase of 12.49 percent compared to 2020 of 4.16 billion US dollars.

However, Indonesia is still in the 13th position of the world's exporter of Muslim clothing, with a share of around 1.86 percent or under China, Bangladesh and Vietnam. The top five destinations for Indonesian Muslim fashion exports are the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, and South Korea.

This shows that Muslim fashion consumption is not always in Asian and African countries, but also in America and Europe.

In line with efforts to open market access, the Minister of Trade will hold a plenary meeting with members of the DPR in order to ratify an international trade cooperation agreement.

The meeting was related to the Bill on the Ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and the Bill on the Ratification of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Korea (Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA). .