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Batik aims to industry to increase exports
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Illustration of batik making (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he batik industry is aiming at establishing itself as a prominent export industry, with the Industry Ministry saying overseas demand will increase over the coming years.
Batik, an internationally acclaimed national heritage that offers a plethora of fabric motifs from different regions, is an industry in which the players are mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said batik exports will grow 6 to 8 percent this year from US$52.44 million in 2018.
“Batik has transformed from just a fabric to an inherent part of fashion and lifestyle,” Airlangga said during the launch of the Gelar Batik Nusantara (GBN) exhibition in Jakarta on Wednesday. “This encourages batik craftspeople and the government to develop the industry so that batik will have greater recognition across the globe.”
According to the ministry, 3,782 batik SMEs employ over 15,000 workers across the country.
Batik produced domestically has been exported to various countries, most of which are developed markets like Japan, the United States and several European countries.
The batik industry is part of the textile and garment sector, one of the five largest manufacturing sectors, according to the Industry Ministry.
