Deputy Minister Of Trade Roro Denies One Piece Disrupts Flag Traders' Turnover

Deputy Minister of Trade (Wamendag) Dyah Roro Esti denied the phenomenon of raising the flag of One Piece making the flag traders turnover drop. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Trade (Wamendag) Dyah Roro Esti denied the phenomenon of raising the flag of One Piece' which made the flag traders turnover drop.

According to him, traders can still sell red and white flags considering that Indonesia will soon welcome its 80th Anniversary (HUT).

"It's not (disturbing the flag traders). Don't be like that, you can still sell flags, especially before August 17," he said at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 6.

Previously, it was reported that the Chairperson of the Berkarya Convection Association, Nandi Herdiaman, admitted that the demand for T-shirts and attributes for the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day (HUT) this year has decreased.

This was due to the trend of the One Piece pirate flag which was crowded on social media.

According to him, this phenomenon affects people's enthusiasm for independence attributes such as red and white flags and nationalism-themed T-shirts.

"It's quiet (of the order), that's why I'm afraid. There is also a fear that it will affect the industry, which usually produces that (the flag or shirt of the Independence Anniversary). Usually, friends (convection) this August 17th must be produced, preparing. With the emergence of this issue, we are also affected by (convections)," he said when contacted by VOI, Monday, August 4.

He again revealed that it was only this year that sales for attributes with the theme of independence lacked interest.

"Just this year, which is a bit quiet. Previous years have usually sold for 50 percent," said Nandi.

Nandi said that the demand for independence-themed t-shirts, which has usually soared since early August, is still sluggish.

He himself has produced 20,000 pieces of Indonesian Independence Day T-shirts, but only about 10 percent have been sold.

"Only 10 percent have been sold. Usually, every August 1st, 50 percent have been sold. On average, friends on August 1 have been busy ordering. So, what date is this? It's only been 10 percent, maybe less. sold," he said.

Nandi menambahkan, mayoritas pelaku usaha mikro kecil dan menengah (IKM/UMKM) yang biasanya memproduksi kebutuhan Agustusan ikut terdampak.

Dia memperkirakan, sekitar 60 hingga 70 persen pelaku UMKM bergantung pada momentum HUT RI untuk meningkatkan omzet melalui produksi bendera, kaus, dan atribut lainnya.

"Yang pasti ada fenomena (One Piece ini), makanya saya ingin tahu juga ya. Pasti ini larinya tetap ke IKM, ke UMKM. Taruhlah mungkin 60 persen atau 70 pesen dia biasa untuk memproduksi persiapan untuk kemerdekaan. Nah, yang ditakutkan itu tadi (maraknya orderan Bendera One Piece), taruhlah 30 persen, pasti itu ke pelaku IKM juga," sebutnya.

Nandi added that the majority of micro, small and medium enterprises (IKM/MSMEs) who usually produce the needs of August were also affected.

He estimates that around 60 to 70 percent of MSME players depend on the momentum of the Indonesian Independence Day to increase turnover through the production of flags, t-shirts, and other attributes.

"What is certain is that there is a phenomenon (One Piece), that's why I want to know too. Surely this is the run to IKM, to MSMEs. Put maybe 60 percent or 70 percent of him used to produce preparations for independence. Well, what is feared was that (the order for the One Piece Flag), put it at 30 percent, definitely it to the perpetrators of IKM too," he said.