Kemenperin-Dekranas Provide Assistance To Advance Weaving Potential In Padangsidimpuan, North Sumatra

The activities of craftsmen at the IKM Tenun Padangsidimpuan Center, North Sumatra. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry)

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) collaborates with the National Crafts Council (Dekranas) to provide assistance to weaving small and medium industries (IKM) to increase the competitiveness of the sector.

Deputy Chairperson of the Daily I Dekranas Loemongga Agus Gumiwang said that every region in Indonesia has superior Wastra products that have character and continue to develop. Thus, the assistance provided also aims to improve the quality of the craftsmen' human resources (HR) so that they can be more prosperous.

"This collaboration is a joint effort to increase the capacity of business actors in product development and improve the quality of competitive products. This is in line with the spirit of commemoration of the 44th Dekranas Anniversary which carries the theme Growing Together, Advance National Heritage," he said in his official statement, Tuesday, May 14.

He said, one of the collaborative activities that had been carried out was assistance in the development of natural motifs and coloring at the Padangsidimpuan weaving IKM center, North Sumatra, in March-April 2024.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries (IKMA) of the Ministry of Industry, Reni Yanita, said that the assistance for the development of the weaving IKM center had been carried out through three stages, namely assistance in the development of motifs and designs which was carried out on March 7-8, the practice of natural coloring and prototyping techniques was carried out on March 18-21 and the monitoring stage was carried out on April 1-3.

Reni assessed that this activity is an important momentum in strengthening the weaving craft industry and increasing the technical aspects of the industry which is also a spirit of joint collaboration.

"It is hoped that this activity will provide the benefits of weaving craftsmen in the morning to increase their potential so that it can have a positive impact on the local economy to continue to develop," he said.

Meanwhile, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), national batik exports and batik products in January-February 2024 increased by 14 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, the export value of ikat weaving reached US$1.19 million throughout 2023, which increased by 32 percent compared to 2022 of US$0.91 million.