Batik cooperatives don't want Chinese batik

The Association of Indonesian Batik Cooperatives (GKBI) has asked the government to stop the importation of China-made batik clothes.

GKBI chairman Noer Basyah Joenet brought the issue of China-made batik during his meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday.

"We asked the trade minister to stop the importation of Chinese batik. If Malaysia can do it, why can't we?" Noer Basyah was quoted by Antara as saying at Kalla's office.

Noer Basyah said that Malaysia banned the importation of Indonesian batik to that country, and therefore, he said the Indonesian government to do the same with the Chinese batik.

He noted that China-made batik currently accounted for around five percent of domestic batik sales.

When asked, Noer Basyah said that the current global crisis would not affect batik cooperatives significantly as most of the cooperatives sell their products in the domestic market. (rid)