Rely On Young Generation Skills, Crafts Industry Is Able To Survive During A Pandemic

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) stated that the craft industry business has proven to be able to survive in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic because it relies more on the skills and innovation of the younger generation who work.

"The craft industry business has proven to be able to survive in the midst of a pandemic, because it relies more on the skills and innovation of the perpetrators than on large capital," said Director General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries (IKMA) of the Ministry of Industry Reni Yanita in a written statement in Jakarta, on Friday, September 14.

Reni assessed that more and more young people are working on producing craft products that are classy in terms of design, innovation, and local wisdom, and have the potential to penetrate the export market and boost the national economy.

The potential development of the domestic handicraft industry is considered quite large, both in terms of production and markets because Indonesia has many areas that produce craft products.

It is known, throughout 2022 the export value of national handicraft products reached 949 million US dollars or an increase compared to exports in 2021 which amounted to 916 million US dollars. The Indonesian handicraft market share is able to reach around 2.5 percent of the world market.

To support the development of the craft industry, the Directorate General of IKMA routinely runs IKM center development programs, new industrial entrepreneur growth, technical guidance, Indonesia Fashion and Craft Awards competition, business incubation, and facilitation of engine and equipment restructuring.

"We also facilitate IKM to participate in national and international-scale exhibitions, as well as open up access to partnerships that are business to business," he said.

On 13-17 September 2023, the Directorate General of IKMA has facilitated 10 handicraft and fashion IKMs to participate in the 2023 Kriyanusa Exhibition, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC). A total of 10 IKMs have received assistance and guidance, both from the Directorate General of IKMA and the National Crafts Council (Dekranas).

The 10 IKM brands are, Billionaire Bags from Surakarta, Griya 99 Permata who produced jewelry and was once a participant in the I'm Ready for Export program, and Menday Craft which is an OVOP IKM with woven handicraft products.

There are also Mitra Wastra Nusantara and Wastraloka with handicraft products combination of wastra who also participated in the exhibition.

Other IKMs are Kirana Cipta Lestari, Ayumu Gendouts assisted by the Bali Creative Industry Center (BCIC), Kanantra with recycled wooden lamp products, Mahagony Citra in line with home decoration products, and Orange Craft with wastra products.

In this sixth event, the exhibition Kriyanusa carries the theme Kriya Unggul, Advanced Indonesia with the tagline Cinta Kriya, Proud to Be Made in Indonesia.

In addition to exhibitions attended by 280 IKM or brands of craft products, there are various activities that can be followed by visitors and entrepreneurs of the handicraft industry, including a speech titled "Starting an Anti-Ribet and Safe Export Business for MSMEs and Downstreaming Products of the Crafts Sector SMEs that are protected by the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 50 of 2020".

In addition, there is a demonstration of Gedogan weaving typical of Bira, Bumukamba Regency, South Sulawesi. Visitors can also watch a series of fashion demonstrations, try to be creative with used plastic waste and cloth, and paint on ceramics.

Reni, who also serves as Secretary General of Dekranas, said that the Kriyanusa exhibition became a joint strategy between Dekranas, the central government, local governments, and business actors to preserve, develop, and promote the diversity of Indonesian handicraft products.

"Through this exhibition, handicraft industry players from all over Indonesia can display their best products in front of collectors and consumers so that later they can increase economic activity in the region and nationally," he added.