TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
ILF 2023 elevates Indonesia’s standing in the leather and textile industry
Change Size
T
he annual Indo Leather & Footwear Exhibition (ILF) by Krista Media opened on Thursday. Held at the Jakarta International Expo, it will be open until Saturday and bring together stakeholders from the leather industry from several countries.
The Indo Leather & Footwear Expo 2023 Fashion Exhibition aims to increase efficiency in the leather and footwear manufacturing industry and help businesspeople optimize production processes, produce quality leather products and introduce innovations or current leather fashion trends.
"The ILF 2023 exhibition this time experienced an increase in participants of around 30 percent compared to the previous year and involved exhibitors from more than eight countries including: India, Italy, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, France,” said Daud D. Salim, CEO of Krista Exhibition. “Organizing the ILF 2023 exhibition is to support economic growth in the leather and footwear manufacturing industry, which has experienced a positive increase, and it is hoped that after the ILF 2023 exhibition activities, business actors in the shoe, tannery and leather goods industries in Indonesia can compete in the global market."
The ILF 2023 exhibition was held in conjunction with the Indo Garment and Textile Expo 2023 and the 40th International Footwear Conference, held in collaboration with the Indonesian Footwear Association (APRISINDO). The event also highlights Krista Exhibitions’ support of the government's 'Kebaya Goes To UNESCO' program through the Kebaya Fashion Show exhibited by Barisan Berkebaya Indonesia, Pertiwi Indonesia and Mustika Ratu.
Through the event, Indonesia is also building its reputation as one of the main state actors in the footwear industry, as it attracts visitors locally and from other countries. The bilateral cooperation between several countries in the region has steadily increased in recent years, especially in the manufacturing sector.
“The technology is peaking; there's so much advancement now. Indonesia is way ahead of [The Philippines], so it's a good learning process for us as well,” said Roger S. Py, director general at Philippine Footwear Federation Inc.
In addition to suppliers and business actors in the industry, the exhibition has also invited fashion design schools, such as ESMOD, LaSalle College and Instituto di Moda Burgo to display some of their work in the fashion show, as well as the chance to participate in some workshop activities. Other interesting activities such as seminars, talk shows, demonstrations on making shoes, bags and leather goods, vests and accessories are also offered by the organizers.
“In the midst of a weakening world economy and a decline in demand, especially from Indonesia's traditional export destination countries, the footwear industry in Indonesia is still a vessel of magnetism, so investment figures are still increasing,” remarked Eddy Widjanarko, chairman of APRISINDO.
He further highlighted three reasons: Indonesia’s maintenance of the global supply amid the pandemic, the handling of the pandemic itself and the Indonesian government's commitment to ease legal barriers and licensing through the omnibus law.
Admitting that there were obstacles, namely the fact that Indonesia did not yet have a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, contrary to neighboring Vietnam, Eddy expressed hope that the Indonesia-EU CEPA discussion could be finalized soon to increase the country’s competitiveness in the global market.
“We hope the Indo Leather & Footwear exhibition can be one of the catalysts that encourage the establishment of a strong and highly competitive business ecosystem for the Indonesian leather industry sector in the future, and we hope that the domestic leather, footwear, leather goods and fashion industry sector will strengthen the working relationship with a broad and stable business ecosystem and supply chain,” said Budi Purwoko, Chairman of Indonesian Tanners Association (DPP APKI).
The success of Indo Leather & Footwear Expo 2023 is inseparable from the support of the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister, the Industry Ministry, the Trade Ministry, the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, the Garut regency administration, KADIN Indonesia, APRISINDO, APKI, the Indonesian Exhibition Entrepreneurs Association (ASPERAPI) and the Indonesian Retailers Association (APRINDO).
