JAKARTA - Chairman of the Surabaya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) M. Ali Affandi encourages East Java entrepreneurs, especially Surabaya and its surroundings, to swiftly capture opportunities for the export market of furniture products.
"We see that export opportunities to developed countries are very large. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for furniture products has increased rapidly and this is an opportunity for Indonesia, especially Surabaya, to be able to export to developed countries," said Ali Affandi in a written statement in Surabaya, quoted from Antara, Thursday 22 September.
According to him, demand for furniture products from abroad experienced a surge in demand so that the furniture industry, especially those made from wood, recorded a fairly stunning export performance, and even a significant increase.
Referring to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), during the January-December 2021 period, the export value of wood furniture reached 1.99 billion US dollars or around IDR 28.6 trillion. This value increased by 32.54 percent compared to the same period in the previous year of 1.5 billion US dollars or around IDR 21.65 trillion.
The five countries that are the main destinations for exports include the United States, Japan, Britain, the Netherlands, and France. "Currently, Indonesia is the 8th largest furniture exporter for the United States, as well as to Canada, France, Japan and so on," he said.
The trend of increasing Indonesia's furniture exports, according to Andi, Ali Affandi's nickname, has actually begun since the trade war between the US and China began, because China, which dominates the US furniture market, has been affected by trade wars.
So, he continued, when furniture buyers in the US look for substitution items, the market becomes a bone for other countries, including Indonesia.
"Although the US wants to optimize its domestic furniture industry, this cannot necessarily be done because the transition from supply from import to domestic production takes time to prepare raw materials, industry and production," he said.
Moreover, the furniture products offered by Indonesian producers have been recognized for quality and have a design that can meet international market tastes, including European countries.
Currently, the furniture industry in Indonesia is quite wide and spread across almost all provinces. considerable centers include Jepara, Cirebon, Sukoharjo, Surakarta, Klaten, Greater Jakarta. In East Java, there are several cities that become industrial centers such as Pasuruan, Gresik, and Sidoarjo.
On the other hand, the demand for furniture in the domestic market itself has also increased by implementing work from home policies or working from every place because consumers want the atmosphere and interior at home to feel comfortable.
Therefore, Andi assessed that the Decorintex exhibition which was held in Surabaya was very appropriate to introduce the latest products and technology of the domestic furniture industry.
"Through Decorintex 2022, hopefully it will be a forum for meeting related business actors and users as well as end-users of industrial products and services to introduce the latest products and technologies that can answer all industrial needs," he said.
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